Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth has recently undergone a significant expansion to improve access, patient facilities, and parking provision. The project included the construction of a new Main Entrance, a North Entrance, and a multi-storey car park, providing modernised access and supporting the hospital’s operational needs.

JCA’s project partners, MAW Consulting, were appointed as Employer’s Agent and Quantity Surveyor, providing comprehensive oversight  Main Entrance development and the subsequent  multi-storey car park. The new entrances include retail spaces, lecture facilities, and flexible first-floor areas designed to meet the hospital’s long-term needs.

Work Involved

• Acting as Employer’s Agent and Quantity Surveyor across multiple phased developments within a live hospital environment.
• Managing construction of the Main Entrance and North Entrance, each steel-framed, two storeys high, with piled foundations and cladding to complement the existing hospital architecture.
• Coordinating the installation of retail units, including M&S Food and Stock Shop at the Main Entrance and Costa Coffee at the North Entrance.
• Overseeing complex phased remodelling of existing hospital areas to maintain operational continuity, including protection of live data cables and vibration-sensitive equipment.
• Administering the JCT Design and Build contract for the multi-storey car park, including practical completion certification.
• Supervising the construction of the car park, including piled foundations, in situ concrete retaining walls, precast concrete decks, stair cores, drainage and sprinkler systems, and steel and concrete structural frame.
• Ensuring aesthetic integration through terracotta rainscreen cladding on stair cores and complementary mesh and timber-look panels on the rest of the building, including measures to prevent glare from car park lighting.
• Coordinating the construction of a link bridge to provide safe escape routes from the first floor of adjacent ward blocks.
• Managing snagging, quality inspection, and completion of works to ensure compliance, safety, and functionality.

The completed Main Entrance, North Entrance, and multi-storey car park have significantly enhanced access, operational efficiency, and amenity provision at Queen Alexandra Hospital. The new entrances provide welcoming, functional spaces for patients, staff, and visitors, while the car park alleviates previous parking constraints and incorporates modern design features sensitive to the hospital environment.

JCA Consulting’s management of the complex, live-site conditions ensured minimal disruption to hospital operations, demonstrating expertise in delivering multi-million-pound healthcare infrastructure projects. The completed developments showcase a successful balance of functional, aesthetic, and operational requirements, supporting the hospital’s long-term growth and service delivery.