The Mortuary and Greenspace Projects - Construction
Published: 29/11/2022 11:34Anyone who has visited the Foresterhill Health Campus in recent weeks will have witnessed the preparatory works for The Mortuary and Green Space Project.
The new two-storey mortuary facility is to be built adjacent to the greenfield site next to Foresterhill Health Clinic and will be an integrated post-mortem examination facility and storage for the deceased that will offer mortuary services within a single facility to serve the population of the North-east of Scotland and Northern Isles.
The Greenspace Project is funded by European Regional Development Fund through NatureScot. The project will transform an area of 12254.4 m2. The design has been completed in partnership with ERZ, NHS Grampian and NatureScot.
The aims and objectives of the Greenspace Project are:
- To develop a destination greenspace to act as a focus for outdoor activity for patients, staff, visitors and the surrounding communities to help enhance the ecosystem.
- To develop a strong planted structure within the area defines routes, creates outdoor spaces and integrates planned future development and improves biodiversity.
- To develop a connected green network across the campus, that provides valuable habitat and enhances biodiversity and increases the ecological value of the site.
- To develop an integrated water management system across the campus which reduces risk of flooding within Aberdeen.
- To reduce current site runoff and to accommodate necessary attenuation associated with future planned development which will improve ecosystem services.
Delivering these developments in the middle of one of the busiest health campuses in Europe requires careful management, to ensure patients, staff and visitors are safe.
Manju Patel, Project Director, said: “We’d like to thank our staff, patients, and visitors in advance for their understanding during the next few months while a range of essential preparatory ground works and materials are being delivered onto the Mortuary Site.
“A challenge the construction activity can pose is the distribution of dust and micro-organisms into the environment. Most of us can be exposed to this without any ill effect. However, for some of our patients, undergoing specific treatments which result in their immune systems being severely suppressed, exposure to these micro-organisms may cause infection. As a result, patients, visitors, and staff may be aware of measures such as window closures, enhanced cleaning and the use of sticky mats in some doorways to collect dust from outside. This is all part of dealing with the risks large building projects like this can pose.”
“We would ask staff and visitors to the site to take extra care when around the construction sites and follow the advice outlined on the contractor’s safety notices.
“As these buildings develop, the challenges we face will change. If we need our patients, visitors or staff to do something differently we will communicate this with them directly. They can rest assured the safe management of the site and the reduction – or elimination, where possible – of risk is a priority for both the Facilities & Estates team and the Project team.”