GRAHAM, a UK-based construction company, is building a new state-of-the-art mental health facility in Mossley Hill, Liverpool, in the UK, through a building contract with developer, Liverpool and Sefton Health Partnership (LSHP).
Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust will run the Mossley Hill Mental Health facility.
The new inpatient facility will phase out traditional shared dormitory mental health wards to provide 80 single bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms.
Throughout the hospital, there will be an emphasis on providing therapeutic spaces with light and airy environments as well as facilities for family visitation and multi-faith worship.
The build started in November 2022 and the handover is anticipated to be in 2025
Trish Bennett, CEO-designate of Mersey Care, said: "As well as being a stunning building, this site will be a massive step up in our clinical facilities. I know patients will truly benefit from the high-quality therapeutic environment allowing them to rest and recover from their crisis episode."
GRAHAM has already topped out on the build and held a ceremony in late July to mark the occasion.
The build started in November 2022 and the handover is anticipated to be in 2025, according to the GRAHAM spokesperson.
Professor Joe Raffety CBE, the departing CEO of Mersey Care, said: "We’re less than a year from the completion of this impressive new site. It will give the people of Liverpool what they need – the very best care in a modern, therapeutic environment with single en suite facilities and easy access to gardens and open space. We know our current inpatient estate is a limiting factor in service users’ recovery so by delivering better buildings, Mersey Care is also setting newer and higher standards in mental health care and recovery."
GRAHAM will be completing roofing elements and achieving weather tightness in the coming months
The UK-based construction company told Building Better Healthcare that over the coming months, it will be completing roofing elements and achieving weather tightness across the building.
This will enable internal trades to continue with partitioning, mechanical and electrical services, floor screeds, joinery, and finishes.
In the coming months, GRAHAM also expects to complete the external brickwork, remove scaffolding, and start other external works and landscaping.
Modern methods of construction in the build
According to the GRAHAM spokesperson, off-site modern methods of construction were used in the build and so far this includes:
- Pre-cast walls and columns for the below-ground foundations and retaining walls
- Structural steel components
- Composite panel roofing system
- Offsite manufacture of internal pre-cast staircases
- Steel Framing Systems (SFS) components were manufactured to the correct length off-site
- Internal door sets were pre-hung and fabricated off-site
Complex design and coordination of the sub-structure, foundations, and drainage were designed in the BIM model to ensure coordination and the ability to manufacture pre-cast elements with service penetrations pre-formed, according to the GRAHAM spokesperson.
The project is set to achieve a BREEM ‘Excellent’ rating for sustainability
Building Information modelling (BIM) is a process that is based on collaboration between all parties involved in the construction project to develop a unified model of the entire project.
The project is also set to achieve a BREEM ‘Excellent’ rating for sustainability.
GRAHAM's Immersive Pod at the Mossley Hill site
As well as building a mental health facility for patients, GRAHAM has invested in the well-being of the construction workers on the Mossley Hill site by piloting its Immersive Pod experience.
In February, GRAHAM introduced an Immersive Pod to provide a captivating environment for those working on the project to sit back, relax, and enjoy the virtual reality experience.
GRAHAM has delivered a social economic return on investment of over £7m
The Immersive Pod was on the Mossley Hill site for four weeks and it allowed people to take a break from their working day and escape to the beach for 20 minutes.
Each individual was able to create their own personal experience by choosing their preferred background noise and lighting, while having access to a range of health and wellbeing services available through inbuilt technology.
Peter Reavey, Regional Director at GRAHAM, said: "The Mossley Hill project exemplifies our commitment to delivering significant social value, creating over £10 million in local economic impact. Initiatives such as the Immersive Pod, which was delivered in conjunction with Mersey Care to support the mental wellbeing of our workforce, and partnerships with Liverpool John Moores University and City of Liverpool College to promote skills and employment opportunities, highlight our dedication to community engagement and education."
CGI of The Mossley Hill Mental Health facility
Adding social value
GRAHAM is also committed to delivering social value and has delivered a social economic return on investment of over £7m, according to the GRAHAM spokesperson.
"This has been through delivering initiatives that promote social skills and employment, support the growth of responsible regional business, and create healthier, safer, and more resilient communities," the GRAHAM spokesperson said.
Most recently, GRAHAM launched the CRE8 initiative, its pre-employment programme that creates sustainable employment opportunities for local disadvantaged people, offering work experience on the Mossley Hill construction site.
Top image: The Mossley Hill Mental Health facility site in July Image credits: Courtesy of GRAHAM
