42 | Ajax Building Contractors: Fiordland Medical Centre T T Russell Fredric Overcoming the challenges in Te Anau The addition resulted in the footprint of the facility being increased to create a U-shape configuration, from 653sqm to 877sqm. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT It’s not every day builders opt to pour concrete during a snowfall. However, for Ajax Building Contractors team, laying the foundation and floor for Fiordland Medical Centre in Te Anau in such adverse conditions was a matter of necessity, co-director Shane Stevenson says. “We actually poured the concrete floor in the snow. I wasn’t [otherwise] going to get a pump and a concrete truck to work in together for another three weeks, I think it was. It was pour it in the snow or delay three weeks. “We started in July last year and I handed it over to them the day before Easter this year.” With such dedication shown by Ajax’s management and builders, it should come as no surprise the key community project was completed on time and under the budget. The scope of the build was to seamlessly add two new wings of 118m2 and 106m2 to the centre’s existing facility which had become inadequate. The addition resulted in the footprint of the facility being increased to create a U-shape configuration, from 653m2 to 877m2 and was designed and project managed by Phil Checketts of Admore Designs. One of the new wings has rooms for district nurses, counsellors, administration offices, visiting specialists, and a treatment room, while the other provides for a procedure room for minor surgery and emergency births and an audio room for hearing tests. A feature of the contract’s specifications was the extensive sound proofing in the walls. This required acoustic insulation and two layers of noise control drywall that sits on Rondo sound control rail which is fixed to the timber framing with an innovative acoustic clip. This provides sound isolation while ensuring good separation between the walls to minimise or eliminate the transfer of noise or conversation from room to room. This system involved a much higher content of labour and materials than a conventional house build and resulted in a wall thickness of 175mm, even with standard dressed 90mm by 45mm used for the framing timber. Matching the existing materials, the exterior cladding comprised EZpanel, a lightweight aerated concrete panel with timber weatherboard above it. Also replicated was a “tricky” internal gutter with the overall result being an extension that is visually absolutely identical to the existing building. The medical centre also incorporates an extensive HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) system. Shane credits the experience and eye for detail of the project’s foreman, Rene Tamblyn, as making a big contribution to the high quality of the finished project. “He usually builds houses and does alterations; to me I think he’s put a high quality residential finish to a commercial building.” Phil Checketts says Ajax won the project with his recommendation to Fiordland Health Trust following a competitive tender process. “There’s was the most complete tender, they had allowed for everything that we had asked for in the documentation. There were next to no tags for non-allowances, it was a very easy tender to read and follow and analyse. “We had experience working with them prior and they were good to deal with. They were very responsive to any requests, they were well organised, that was a major thing; nothing was a problem to them.” A vital aspect of the project was the builders needing to work appropriately and respectfully around the centre during its operating hours, and at times the team were required to secure building materials on the ground for incoming medical helicopters at very short notice. “They did all this extremely well.” The total cost of the project, which included work outside of Ajax’s contract, was $1.6 million. Based in Gore, Ajax Building Contractors has accumulated an impressive portfolio of projects across a wide area. These include multi-million dollar legacy civic projects, commercial and industrial, dairy sheds and farm buildings, new homes of a broad scope and additions and alterations while the company is also an agent for Streamline carports. Sales, Installation & Maintenance Proud to support Ajax Building Contractors
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