Acute Hospital, Coventry

The Acute Hospital at Coventry forms part of the £340m Coventry New Hospitals PFI contract on the site of the existing Walsgrave Hospital. The concrete structural frame comprises a 300mm deep in-situ concrete flat slab supported on in-situ concrete columns and piled foundations. The column grid is typically 7.2 x 7.2m with localised areas where spans increase to 8.5m. 

Concrete was chosen for the structural frame in order to provide a minimum construction depth with a flat soffit to allow uninterrupted service distribution and straightforward fixing and acoustic/smoke sealing at wall partition heads. Concrete was also selected in order to meet the stringent vibration criteria.

A study from Arup underlined why reinforced concrete is the best solution for hospital construction. Recently, steel/composite floors have been marketed as suitable for hospital use on the basis that they can be designed to meet the stringent vibration criteria of hospital night wards and operating theatres. However, until now, no study has quantified the significant additional construction materials and depth required to enable steel/composite floors to meet the vibration criteria. Concrete can meet the vibration criteria at minimal or no extra cost.