Buzon Pedestals from Pasco for Epworth Hospital Geelong

Main entry and fountain at the Epworth Hospital, Geelong (Peter Redmond)

Epworth Hospital, Geelong

The building Epworth Hospital Geelong is owned and operated by Epworth HealthCare. The $277 million building, located over 10 hectares, is set to open in July. It will be a comprehensive acute and rehabilitation private hospital, integrating clinical practice with teaching and research.

The 170 bed facility will have an emergency department, seven operating theatres, four birthing suites and a six bed Intensive Care unit.

In a unique partnership with Barwon Health, the plush hospital will offer cancer and renal treatment services to public as well as private patients. Complex neurosurgery - previously unavailable in Geelong - will also be performed at the quarter-billion dollar hospital.

Once fully operational, the hospital is expected to treat more than 46,000 patients annually and employ more than 700 fulltime staff. About 400 staff will start work from July.

The design
With mood lighting, Italian marble nurses' stations and luxurious wallpapers, carpets and fabrics, Geelong's new Epworth hospital has the look and feel of an opulent hotel.

No expense has been spared on this seven storey building with vast areas of sandstone, granite and curved glass, providing pristine 180 degree views. Regular rooms, wards and staff areas are also stylish and luxurious, creating an ambience similar to that of a plush five-star hotel.

On the ground floor, the hospital has a heated pool, central atrium with a grand staircase and landscaped courtyards and gardens.

The product
Pasco's Award Winning Buzon Pedestals were chosen by the architectural firm Silver Thomas Hanley for creating the large paved public pedestrian courtyards and plaza areas, as well as the large terraces for public, patient and staff use.

Concrete slabs with integrated falls were waterproofed using a liquid applied polyurethane membrane. Baron Forge were then engaged to install 1400m2 of 500 x 500 x 30mm granite pavers on Buzon Pedestals ranging from 75mm to 285mm high.

Designed for use with pavers, timber or steel grating, Buzon pedestals are used to create raised floors on balconies, terraces, green roofs, temporary floors and water features. They allow builders to conceal services and offer easy access for maintenance of waterproofing membranes.

The Buzon pedestal supports were an easy choice to achieve the high-end finish required. With a patented slopecorrecting device ensuring a level floor finish, interchangeable space tabs accommodate gaps between pavers for positive drainage, air ventilation and preventing ponding therefore reducing slip risks.

Furthermore, Buzon Pedestals reduce the weight bearing loads on concrete slabs, by eliminating screeding, sand/ cement beds for pavers and tiles.

The pedestals improve thermal insulation, have sound proofing benefits for green roofs, multi-storey apartments and hotel terraces and balconies.

Buzon Pedestals have solid sustainability credentials, manufactured from 80% recycled polypropylene and are 100% recyclable.

Designed, manufactured and tested in Belgium, Buzon pedestals have been used on projects all over the world, and now have the Epworth Hospital Geelong as part of its illustrious portfolio.

Testimonial
Murray O'Donnell, Senior Site Manager, Brookfield Multiplex.

"The installation was critical as it was on a waterproofing membrane over the hospital wards and operating theatres, so we needed the best product for the job. Due to the large amount of pedestrian traffic... we needed a product with maximum loading capabilities."

"We were extremely happy with our choice as the process from approval to completion of installation was extremely easy and seamless, assisting us in meeting our deadlines."