Delivering a major healthcare facility within a constrained live environment 

NG Bailey played a key role in delivering the £110m Elective Care Centre at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, constructed on a live hospital site with limited space and restricted access. 

Working in close collaboration with Robertson Construction from the outset, the project required a coordinated, design-led approach to minimise disruption while maintaining programme certainty and build quality. Early design development was prioritised to enable offsite manufacturing to be embedded into the delivery strategy from the earliest stages. 

Designing a repeatable, production-led offsite solution 

The main services distribution strategy was developed around a multi-service corridor module manufactured offsite, incorporating partition heads and fire seals to reduce on-site congestion and simplify installation. 

A detailed programme supported the development of a full-scale prototype and specification, ensuring compliance with client requirements, building controls and long-term maintenance needs. This enabled installation methodologies to be refined early, reducing waste and eliminating non-value add activities, while ensuring the modules could be manufactured and installed efficiently. 

Once validated, a consistent set of design rules was established across the project team, ensuring accurate input into the 3D model and enabling efficient production of coordinated manufacturing drawings. This joined-up approach between design and manufacture supported a demanding design-for-manufacture programme. 

In total, 400 modules were delivered, covering over 1.8km of services. Modules were manufactured as part of an industrialised production process, enabling repeatability, consistency and a planned output aligned to programme requirements. 

Each module incorporated fully tested and insulated LTHW, CHW and domestic pipework systems, valving, supply and extract ductwork, electrical and data containment systems, sprinkler pipework and associated services, all installed in accordance with British Standards. 

Improving safety, quality and programme certainty through industrialised delivery 

An industrialised production approach enabled consistent output and supported the delivery of two zones per week, maintaining programme requirements. 

Manufacturing in a controlled factory environment enabled systems to be pre-tested prior to installation, improving quality assurance and reducing defects and rework on site. The use of offsite manufacturing also reduced congestion within corridor spaces, with only a single team required to install and connect modules, improving safety and reducing interface risk in a constrained live environment. 

This approach delivered measurable improvements in cost, productivity and environmental performance, while ensuring a high-quality, defect-free installation aligned to the operational requirements of a live healthcare facility.