Integrated Health Projects (IHP) has hosted a topping-out ceremony for the first NHS National Rehabilitation Centre (NRC) that they were a part of building.
IHP began the event with a piper leading guests onto the roof of the new three-storey NRC at the Stanford Hall Rehabilitation Estate near Loughborough.
VINCI Building and Sir Robert McAlpine, the construction companies building the NRC under the joint venture IHP also celebrated completing the frame of the building, which is another significant milestone in the construction of the NRC.
National property and construction consultancy EDGE is providing project management and NEC supervision services has been appointed for the delivery of the NRC scheme.
The new state-of-the-art facility will be highly energy efficient and will include 70 beds
The £105m NRC building is part of the Government’s New Hospital Programme.
Further, the new state-of-the-art facility will be highly energy efficient and will include 70 beds and Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust will run the NRC.
Academic partners, Loughborough University and the University of Nottingham will run the research and training.
Guests were led onto the roof of the new NRC
The NRC is due to open in 2025 and aims to transform clinical treatment for patients in the East Midlands, and set a new standard for research and innovation, and education and training in rehabilitation for the whole of the UK.
The celebration was attended by guests representing key stakeholders including:
- Sir Andrew McAlpine – partner at Sir Robert McAlpine on behalf of IHP
- EDGE
- NEC
- The Black Stork Charity
- University of Nottingham
- Loughborough University
- The Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre, which is located on the same estate
Key guests were invited to cement their involvement in the programme by signing their names in concrete.
The £105m NRC building is part of the Government’s New Hospital Programme
Mark Bessey, Sector Director of IHP, said: "This topping out ceremony provides an opportunity to celebrate the exemplary collaboration and the technical excellence of the project team."
"IHP is proud to be working with Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust on delivering this flagship facility for the New Hospital Programme," Bessey added. "The NRC sets new standards in terms of healthcare innovation and sustainability, providing world-class rehabilitation for patients and outstanding facilities for ongoing research and development."
Miriam Duffy, NRC Director, said: "We began this journey almost eight years ago in 2016, and so today’s milestone is a testament to the teamwork and perseverance that have brought us to this point, which is another step towards opening our doors to patients in need of rehabilitation."
"The NRC will not only serve as a centre of rehabilitation excellence but also as a symbol of hope for countless individuals and families across the country. We look forward to welcoming patients next year so we can help them start their own journey towards a better future with as much independence as possible," Duffy concluded.
This comes as it was previously announced in April that IHP was on track to deliver the NRC with the concrete frame of the building almost complete.