Warracknabeal Hospital Aged Care Facility Project Manager: Bruce Cook & Associates Architect: Baade Harbour Australia Client: Rural Northwest Health Principal Contractor: Locks Constructions Budget: $19m Locks Director Mr. Lou Krelle describes the Warracknabeal Hospital’s new addition as one of his most rewarding projects. Starting in January of 2007 the sixty-bed ‘Residential Aged Care Facility’ was completed on schedule and under budget, in May 2008. While the facility was built for ‘Rural Northwest Health’, it has provided many great challenges and opportunities for Locks Constructions and staff, local tradespeople and the wider community.  The technically and aesthetically unique design sees a central hub, four residential wings and one service wing extend out across the existing site. The construction process too was unusual, with the still-functioning hospital requiring essential services to continue operating during all phases of demolition and construction. To accommodate this, a multi-staged construction was vital, with the kitchen services wing required to be commissioned before subsequent demolition and construction could occur. All staff of the hospital, the various subcontractors, suppliers and especially our own tradespeople managed to work effectively in this environment, despite the unconventional progression of construction works. The central hub of the building creates many interesting features including curved walls, unusual ceiling cavities and the sweeping, curved roof. The roof is comprised of tapered Lysaght Longline 305 roof deck, an industry first for Victoria. A major component of this project is the focus on recycled water and energy efficient systems.  The entire building is serviced with solar hot water, grey water is collected, treated and used to water lawns and gardens in the court yards and all rain water is also collected, treated then used throughout the hospital complex. Warracknabeal Hospital is an excellent example of major infrastructure in rural Victoria, which Locks Constructions is proud to be associated with.