Sensational-Adelaide.com

Aerial orthophoto of the NRAH acquired on the 25th August 2014.

Great photo of a massive job.

They've just spent many millions redeveloping the QEH, and I've seen no mention anywhere of it closing.

This hospital has the biggest footprint for a building in the southern hemisphere

serca wrote:This hospital has the biggest footprint for a building in the southern hemisphere

Source?

Surely the major hospitals interstate are similar in size or larger...

I was talking with one of the supervisors on the site. Also "apparently" it is the largest construction site in Australian history topping more than 1300 workers onsite

I think the claim it has the biggest footprint, i.e. the amount of space it covers on the ground is true. But not the biggest floor space. Other hospitals are likely to have a smaller footprint but more floor space (that is, they are 10+ levels).

[Shuz] wrote:I think the claim it has the biggest footprint, i.e. the amount of space it covers on the ground is true. But not the biggest floor space. Other hospitals are likely to have a smaller footprint but more floor space (that is, they are 10+ levels).

Those sections along the north edge look to be around 8 - 10 floors each and must add up to a sizable floor area however. I can believe the claim about the size of the footprint being the reference for this project rating so significantly. Does anyone have the floor area of this hospital?

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A cursory Google search reveals these two statements: "251,000m2 of floor area over 10 levels" or "some 275,000 square metres of floor space over 13 hectares of land". I have no idea if these statements are mutually exclusive.

Interestingly though, the search also turned up the fascinating tidbit that Adelaide has the highest earthquake risk of any Australian capital city. We're still geologically stable, but hey, the more you know...

Oh, and to top it off, the new RAH sits pretty much right on top of the earthquake fault line.

So does Flinders. Pray to the gods that if a big earthquake ever strikes us, that the hospitals are still there. But probably not.

The fault looks like its between the police barracks and the old Adelaide gaol to me. But I guess both survived the 1954 earthquake. Hopefully the hospital is a little more technologically advanced than the other two.

Firstly, thanks SRW for the info - sure helps re hospital size perspective.

Secondly, the main fault is the Eden/burnside Fault along the base of the hills - this is where big risk is, but the others usually move in sympathy with a major fault line. Another place is the area just west of main Sth Rd near Flinders hospital. Looked at all this in teaching about earthquake geology,

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[Shuz] wrote:Oh, and to top it off, the new RAH sits pretty much right on top of the earthquake fault line.

So does Flinders. Pray to the gods that if a big earthquake ever strikes us, that the hospitals are still there. But probably not.

I vaguely remember that factoid being used to scaremonger against the relocation of the hospital back in the height of the debate. Suffice it to say, the concern is misplaced. Engineering standards are very advanced these days, and in the case of the new RAH, as a post-disaster facility it is designed to remain operable through and after a 500 year event, and stay standing after a 1,500 year event. Even some folks from New Zealand have come over to examine its earthquake proofing design, so apparently it'll be the safest place to be.

[Shuz] wrote:Oh, and to top it off, the new RAH sits pretty much right on top of the earthquake fault line.

So does Flinders. Pray to the gods that if a big earthquake ever strikes us, that the hospitals are still there. But probably not.

In fact you in the event of a large earthquake you should go to the new RAH as it is going to be Adelaide's only magnitude 10 rated building. And on of the few Mag 10 rated buildings in Australia

Magnitude 10+ has never happened before though has it?