Baird Family Hospital & ANCHOR Centre

Clad in success

Landmark Aberdeen Hospital project highlights use of off-site fabrication.

Interlinked healthcare projects in Aberdeen, The Baird Family Hospital and the nearby ANCHOR Centre, demonstrate the importance of offsite fabrication to get major developments over the finish line. Having faced historic timing and budgetary challenges due to COVID and sanitation / ventilation issues, it was vital that the last leg of the work, including the installation of rainscreen cladding, was completed without a hitch.

In 2024 cladding subcontractor ProCladd appointed Vivalda Scotland to supply and install 4,000 sq m of Equitone natura (8mm) fibre cement panels for the imposing Baird building and 200 sq m of wood effect Rockpanel (11mm) for the front of the ANCHOR centre.

Due to access and space constraints on-site, Vivalda Scotland undertook all pre-fabrication work off-site at its Cumbernauld facility, before transporting the ready-to-fit cladding to Aberdeen where it was installed on a just-in-time basis. To improve project efficiency, secret fix brackets from SFS were also precision drilled to each panel off-site, enabling rapid completion of the robust, fireproof Equitone panels.

William Barlow, branch manager of Vivalda Scotland, said: “One of the largest projects of its kind in Scotland, the Baird Family Hospital and adjoining ANCHOR centre demonstrates why more contractors should be considering off-site fabrication when it comes to cladding.

“We have a longstanding relationship with ProClad, who really understand the benefits of appointing experienced partners to add value within their area of expertise. We have the software, CNC machines and beam saws to ensure that we reduce material wastage, while achieving accurate cuts on every panel supplied.”

The Baird Family Hospital and The ANCHOR Centre Project is a £261.1 million building development at the Foresterhill Health Campus in Aberdeen. This exciting project comprises two new buildings being opened on the site to support and enhance the provision of clinical care. Both buildings include state-of-the-art research and teaching facilities and will offer person-centred environment of care.