Whittington Education Centre

Working alongside our sister company, Ryder Architecture, as the modern methods of construction (MMC) consultant on the project, BIM Academy set out a digital approach, using BIM to design for manufacture and assembly to introduce cost and environmental savings to the client.

Whittington Health NHS Trust provides hospital and community care services to 500,000 people living in Islington and Haringey, as well as other London boroughs including Barnet, Enfield, Camden and Hackney. As one organisation providing both hospital and community services, the trust is known as an ‘integrated care organisation’.

The project was to develop Whittington Education Centre (WEC) into a multipurpose building located on the Whittington hospital site. The aim was to quickly provide replacement accommodation for part of the hospital that was required for a new mental health building. Due to time pressures, there was an emphasis on delivering a quick build system.

With speed of delivery being a key priority, the trust took the decision to procure a volumetric modular system. The volumes were pre fitted with bathrooms, kitchens and wall finishes and fixtures, such as lighting and MEP equipment. The external cladding was then added onsite.

More attention and design resolution were given at the early stages to produce 3D models, which accelerated the site phase programme and enabled rapid assembly of the volumetric modules in the factory. Assembling the modules in a factory this way also had other benefits; there was less site waste, and programme speed was significantly increased due to repetition of components and a large reduction in the risk of onsite issues and weather delays.

The modules were assembled at a rate of three to four per day with just a single crane and lorry. A total of 30 volumetric modules were assembled over 11 days, with only three days of down time. The controlled factory environment resulted in an increased accuracy, comfort and safety for assembly and quality control when it came to onsite delivery and assembly.

Designing this way also means that the 3D models for the project contain the essential design and material data the trust needs to plan future maintenance effectively, therefore supporting future maintenance plans.