Government revisited the original design of the new Peebles Hospital with a view to reducing construction and operational costs, while increasing its function and practicality. The new design includes all the amenities of the original design, but at a reduced construction cost and with increased square footage.

GOVERNMENT MOVES FORWARD WITH DESIGNS FOR NEW HOSPITAL 

Government is moving forward with plans for a new hospital by taking the architectural drawings for a new $40.5M six-storey facility to Executive Council this month.

Government revisited the original design of the new Peebles Hospital with a view to reducing construction and operational costs, while increasing its function and practicality. The new design, being worked on by PageSoutherlandPage (PSP), of Dallas, Texas, includes all the amenities of the original design, but at a reduced construction cost and with increased square footage.

The hospital will cover some 135,000 square feet—approximately 15,000 square feet more than the original plan –– and will include 128 beds, whereas the previous design catered for 80.

The new plan also includes two vacant floors for later expansion or for housing other Government services. The overall construction cost is some $19.5M less than the construction cost of the original design.

Minister for Health and Welfare Honourable Ronnie W. Skelton noted his satisfaction with the new illustrations made by the architects. “We asked the PSP architects to go back to the drawing board and create something that better fits the needs of the BVI in terms of both space and cost, and they did just that.

“We now have a design that is less costly to build, less costly to cool, and less costly to outfit than the original design. We also have an added bonus –– more space for future growth and development. “

In addition to the 128 beds, the facility will include three standard-sized operating theatres, at least two nursing stations to support each of the major hospital wards, a chapel, and a coffee and gift shop.