Nelson Hospital ED expansion

Naylor Love delivered the expansion and refurbishment of Nelson Hospital’s Emergency Department, increasing capacity and improving patient flow in one of the hospital’s most operationally sensitive areas. The works were carefully staged around live clinical services, public access, ambulance movements and staff operations, requiring close coordination with Health New Zealand, TSA Riley, Beca, Klein Architects, the hospital’s Facilities team and other hospital stakeholders.

The expansion includes additional clinical spaces, improved triage areas, a dedicated mental health suite, a full isolation wing, a fast-track assessment zone and a refurbished reception and triage area. Specialist areas required early engagement with hospital teams to ensure safety, privacy, compliance and end-user requirements were clearly understood and built into the works.

Successful delivery depended on disciplined planning, clear communication and strong control of high-risk work. This included demolition, live service tie-ins, coordinated shutdowns, fire separations, odour and fume control, dust management, temporary access and infection prevention measures. Meticulous document control, accurate as-built information and structured close-out planning also supported a smooth handover for this services-heavy healthcare project.