Princess Alexandra Hospital has commenced the final phase of the Cladding Project to return the hospital’s exterior to its former glory using safer materials after non-compliant cladding was removed in 2018.

Between April 2020 and February 2021 approximately 8,500 panels of external cladding will be installed on the Main Hospital building, the Ambulatory and Renal Transplant Services building and the Central Energy Unit.

Project Manager Geoff O-Bryan said there are some changes to pedestrian and vehicle access but there is no impact on clinical service delivery during the project.

“Works are well under way with visible scaffolding, mast climbers, fencing and signage in place across the affected areas of the campus,” he said.

“Hutchinson Builders are working with our Project Team to minimise disruptions for patients and visitors, and we thank everyone, including our staff, for their patience and understanding to keep the project running to plan.” 

The complicated process of re-cladding the building relies on each piece that was removed in 2017 and 2018 being mapped, numbered and individually manufactured given the uniqueness of the shape of the building.

The new façade will have many similarities to the look of the former cladding with some modern pops of colour using materials permitted under The Building and Other Legislation (Cladding) Amendment Regulation 2018. 

In June 2017, cladding on Buildings 1 and 31 at PAH was highlighted as non-compliant after investigations and testing was conducted by the Non-conforming Building Products Audit Taskforce.

Works commenced within months to remove fire hazards and external cladding in high-risk areas, with the bulk of the remaining non-compliant external cladding removed from April 2018 until September 2018.