Kākāriki Hospital

Converting an office building shell into a fully operational hospital is no easy feat and demands precision and innovation. Kakariki Hospital, an elective surgical hospital located in a Greenlane, Auckland, offers a wide array of surgical procedures for adults and children, housed in a state-of-the-art medical facility. Completed in April 2024, the project features four large digital operating theatres, twenty post-operative recovery and day stay bays, twenty inpatient ensuite rooms, a pre-admission clinic, a floor of consulting suites, and a full state-of-the-art commercial kitchen.

RCP was responsible for feasibility and spatial cost exercises, design management, and construction management. The team navigated several challenges including collaborating with multiple stakeholders across the site and on adjoining properties.

An early feasibility requirement was to confirm if the Office building shell could properly support a hospital in accordance with structural codes in NZ relating to earthquakes. Hospitals are generally classified as Importance Level 4 (IL4) buildings and must withstand disastrous events and remain operational. However, upgrading the existing structure to meet IL4 standards was unfeasible due to the significant completion of the basebuild shell. A key agreement was required, which RCP facilitated with the design engineers and council on what the disaster relief requirements needed to be and how the building would perform in a significant event without compromising patient safety.

Fitting extensive hospital services into the limited space of an office building also proved challenging and resulted in frequent service clashes. The project team remained agile, quickly addressing on-site issues to prevent delays and cost overruns. Their collaboration with service consultants and contractors ensured seamless operations despite the building's initial design constraints.

The construction company also proved an asset due to their familiarity with the existing building.  As the contractor had not undertaken any specialist healthcare construction previously, RCP were instrumental in ensuring that key roles on the contractor side were filled with the necessary experience. The facility's operating theatres received high praise from suppliers during fit out, highlighting the teams ability to learn and adapt and manage complex tasks for the first time.

The end result is a project the team are very proud of, an important tell-tale for RCP as to the successful delivery of a project is the feedback received from the end-users, positive feedback from the CEO, stakeholders, and staff affirmed the facility's success. The project's collaborative spirit and transparent problem-solving maintained strong relationships.