May_1970 — Page 19

NURSES HOSTEL

SISTERS MESS

Site plan

PUMP

HOUSED

RETAINING

Ward block 2nd & 3rd class Ward block 1st class x-ray

department

Physio-therapy & pathology 4.Specialist clinics

5. Central dispensary

6. Blood bank

7. Casualty department

8. Admission

9. General out-patients

10. Boiler house

11. Laundry

12. Kitchen & stores

13. Mortuary

14. Animal house

pathology and physiotherapy depart- ments and a specialist clinic – all con- tained in single-storey blocks.

In addition there is a two-storey general out-patients block containing the general out-patients, dental, op- thalmic, and ear, nose and throat de- partments, and a second two-storey services block housing the central kit- chen, laundry, bulk-store, mortuary and boiler room complex.

Vertical circulation is by eight high-speed lifts with alternative selec- tive/collective controls, which can be switched on to either manual or auto- matic operation. There are also four general purpose, fire-escape and service stairs one at each end of the two slab blocks. Together with the lifts are two disposal and one sterile dumb- waiter type conveyors.

Background

The need for a new general hospital at Seremban was recognised many years ago and discussions on the sub- ject pre-dated the Second World War. The 30-acre site across the road from the old hospital, was made available by

Far East BUILDER, May 1970

the Negri Sembilan State Government when the war ended, but of the pre- liminary schemes prepared none materialised.

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The project was re-awakened in early 1961 when early 1961 when the building being one of the country's first post-war hos pitals a long series of design discus- sions was held between Ministry of Health and Public Works Department officers to draw up a brief.

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In mid-1962 a preliminary design was approved by the medical authori- ties and preparation of working draw ings followed immediately, although discussions on the details continued. Finally, in January 1965, a design ac- ceptable to everyone concerned was approved.

Structural and mechanical en- gineering consultants were appointed in October 1962, and quantity survey. ors in March 1963. Site preparation, earthworks and the building of a re- taining wall started on site in late 1964 and were completed in April the fol- lowing year. Piling work was finished by August 1965.

Tenders for the main works were

called in February 1966. The success- ful tenderer took possession of the site two months later and completed con- struction in two years and nine months. This compared favourably with construction periods of other hospitals of this type and size.

Materials

Strict economic control was ex- cercised from the start. A normal rein- forced concrete structure, founded on 591 eighteen-inch diameter piles, was decided on early in the design stage. The choice of finishes however was not so simple.

Besides considerations of economy, materials selected, especially for floors, had to fulfil certain requirements such as easy maintenance, durability and local availability both of the materials themselves and of the operatives ex- perienced in their laying.

Final selections were made as fol- lows: Floors generally were finished in vinyl-asbestos tiles, toilets and bath- room areas in vitreous mosaic tiles, and external corridors and passages in a granolithic finish.

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