The demolition works at the Royal Hobart Hospital in Hobart’s CBD was part of the larger construction works undertaken by the John Holland / Fairbrother joint venture to replace the hospital’s B Block with a new K Block, while the hospital remained fully operational. Hazell Bros was awarded the subcontract tender for the demolition of B Block located in the northwest corner of the hospital complex. The project was successfully completed through in-depth staging that allowed machinery to reach the higher levels of the building’s “tower” by constructing a ramp comprised of debris from the lower levels.

Scope of works included:

• Design, engineer, supply, install/erect, certify, dismantle and removal of temporary works including façade propping/structural bracing/formwork, support and protection.
• Demolition of B Block’s “fan”, “tail” and “tower” structures, while causing minimal disruption to heritage-listed and operational areas of the hospital.
• Diversion of all hospital services (power, medical gases, water etc.)

Demolition of the existing Block B involved substantial technical, physical and logistical challenges that had to be overcome for successful project delivery.

The demolition work was completed within a live hospital environment which required:

• Patients to be decanted from Block B to a temporary building in the RHH footprint
• Noise attenuation and dissipation to minimise disturbance to operating theatres and laboratory areas that contain sensitive equipment (microscopes, etc.) susceptible to impacts from ground vibration.

Hazell Bros was a Category 2 Winner at the Tasmanian 2017 CCF Earth Awards for the Royal Hobart Hospital Redevelopment – Block B Demolition.