CONSTRUCTION AMIDST A PANDEMIC

CONSTRUCTION AMIDST A PANDEMIC

We are currently living in one of the worst pandemics in history; and amid such panic, the doctors and medical staff are at the frontlines, battling the deadly COVID-19 virus. Another set of heroes that worked in the backdrop and provided the doctors with an extensive medical facility in the shortest possible time are the engineers behind the building of the two mobile hospitals in China.
In the wake of the coronavirus spreading like wildfire in China, the government decided to built a mobile hospital with 1000 beds and all critical care facilities to battle the SARS virus. The Huoshenshan Hospital was built from 23 January 2020 to 2 February 2020 in the Wuhan district. Later, another facility, the Leishenshan Hospital was built 40 km away. Both of these were placed such that they were close to Wuhan, which was the epicentre of the pandemic, as well as major cities like Beijing.
The hospital was built faster since a type-design was used from a previous mobile hospital built during the 2003 SARS epidemic. The designs were however adjusted for terrain, capacity and other factors. The hospital is made of two floors and has 1000 beds, many isolation wards and 30 intensive care units.
In the initial stage, dozens of excavators, bulldozers and other earth-moving equipment prepared the ground. This was followed by the laying down of several layers of matting and concrete. Instead of building a foundation first and following up, prefabricated units were produced parallelly, so that construction of the foundation and building envelope took place at the same time. The units were laid on pillars to keep them off the ground. Each unit is about 10m2, fitted with two beds and depressurized to keep micro-organisms out. It also has specialized ventilation systems and double-sided cabinets that connect each patient room to hallways, which allows the hospital staffs to deliver supplies without the need to enter each patient room.
Another main factor was the endless manual labour for the nine days of construction. From an understaffed team working 12-hr shifts to 7000 workers handling three shifts, the staff risked their lives to provide proper facilities to doctors. The site engineers, supervisors and workers were proud to provide their service to their country in the times of need.

- By Saee Bodhke