When you manage a hospital that runs around the clock, there’s no good time to shut the car park down. That was the environment Protek walked into at Mount Hospital – a live, working hospital in the Perth CBD where every decision on site had to account for patient care, staff access, and uninterrupted power supply.

The scope: construct a new switch room and generator compound inside the hospital’s existing undercroft car park. Concrete scabbling, slab pours, block walls, galvanised chain mesh enclosure, fire-rated doors, all of it in a confined space beneath an active hospital.

The undercroft location created two immediate problems. Scabbling is loud and creates vibration, both of which risked disrupting the hospital above. And pouring concrete in an enclosed space beneath a building requires a line pump, which meant a temporary car park closure.

There was also a tight runway. The contract wasn’t signed until 15 April. Start date was 26 April. Less than two weeks to schedule, issue purchase orders, and order materials. The chain mesh fencing alone had a six-week lead time.

Safety barricades and signage went in before any work started. Every pathway was assessed. Daily communication with the client and hospital staff kept everyone across the schedule. No safety breaches, no unauthorised access.

High-noise works were scheduled for weekends to minimise impact on the hospital above. The car park closure for the concrete pour was timed for a weekend too. A full schedule was developed and approved by the client before any works commenced.

Scope included the concrete pad, block walls, floor sealing, galvanised chain mesh generator enclosure, and fire-rated doors. When the client requested design changes mid-project, the site team acted immediately to avoid delays and unnecessary costs.