GEC Anderson stainless steel for new hospital

GEC Anderson stainless steel sinks, worktops, cabinets, shelving and splashbacks were specified throughout the recently completed Omagh Hospital and Primary Care Complex.

The brand new, two story, hospital, comprises a total of eight buildings and provides a range of primary, secondary and community healthcare services.

These include urgent care, imaging, clinical investigation and testing, GP services, operating theatres, endoscopy and cardiac assessment. Construction was by McLaughlin & Harvey, working to the design and specification of Todd Architects and Planners with Hall Black Douglas. The client is Western Health & Social Care Trust.

Many of the clinical areas feature GEC Anderson stainless steel worktops and splashbacks that comply with Health Technical Memorandum (HTM) 63, relating to fitted storage and furniture within Hospitals.

Generally, worktops were fixed to composite base cabinets but in many instances, stainless steel legs and supports were deployed. In certain areas, GEC Anderson stainless steel cabinets and shelving were also specified. GEC Anderson worked directly for the main contractor, providing a full measuring and installation service, within a strict six month time frame.

GEC Anderson are used to working in highly specialised environments, such as hospitals as well as Stations and Airports that also can have very specific and exacting requirements.

Much of GEC Anderson’s other work is in domestic and residential kitchens where emphasis is very much on finish and appearance. The shear scale and complexity of this project required a highly disciplined and professional approach in order to fulfil its exacting demands, within the allotted timescale.

The fully detailed and comprehensive specification, with drawings and data sheets, provided the necessary information from which GEC Anderson could work. This, combined with a highly effective teamwork and support from main contractor, McLaughlin and Harvey, enabled GEC Anderson to verify requirements and dimensions before proceeding to manufacture their bespoke units and then returning to site to install.

Managing director of GEC Anderson, Martin Tye, took a close personal involvement with the project. “This was a super project to have been awarded. It was very clearly specified and we could see, from the outset, that the hospital was to a very high standard. This is obvious when seeing the completed project but, at the initial costing through to construction stages, it is not always easy to appreciate the vision behind its design.

"Fulfilment of our contract was a challenge, not least due to the shear size of the project and the fact that we were working across all of the various [eight] buildings, simultaneously.

"A significant level of coordination with other suppliers was also necessary. However, the quality and availability of drawings and information, combined with the support received from the McLaughlin and Harvey team, enabled GEC Anderson to provide the specified units as they were required.”

GEC Anderson have been in the business of providing bespoke stainless steel products since 1962. Over this time, they have been involved in projects of all sizes.

Examples include major hospitals, such as Omagh; multi apartment developments including The Barbican in London; airports, stadia museums, libraries, theatres and galleries; schools, colleges and universities; offices and retail spaces; but also individual domestic kitchens.