It is essentially a brand new hospital that opens before long at Bispebjerg in Copenhagen, including emergency and intensive care, surgical rooms, x-ray and other facilities. To fit it all in, the north wing of the old Building 7 is brought down, and eventually the entire building, which has previously housed all surgery and radiology at Bispebjerg. LBP Engineering have directed the stage-by-stage mapping of the building ahead of demolition.

So how do you demolish an entire hospital wing without disturbing daily operations across the large hospital? At Bispebjerg, the solution has been to move all north wing activities to a temporary building until the new emergency hospital is opened. Radiology and surgery facilities still have access to the rest of the hospital via subterranean tunnels, and a separate x-ray unit has been constructed next to the emergency room. One clear challenge in all of this has been the building’s age – more than 80 years has gone by since its construction – and the sometimes deficient documentation of wiring and other technical elements.

“We have found miles of wire which has been cut in both ends, and there is an overall lack of data. It is not at all surprising, of course: The north wing was built in the 1930’s, and more has been added over the years. However, it does make it rather challenging to assess the different technical aspects,” says LBP project manager, Jesper Sommerset.

“We have reviewed the entire building in order to certify what it will imply to move everything out and to prepare the demolition without affecting daily operations. We have spoken to everyone involved, from the building owner to the medical staff and those responsible for technical maintenance of the hospital’s systems and machines. Thorough user involvement is key if we want everything to be ready for the relocation and inauguration of the new emergency hospital,” explains Jesper Sommerset.

LBP Engineering have brought on a small and agile team for the job, but one which encompasses many different competencies as well as a profound knowledge of the systems that the hospital relies on. On top of this, LBP have been responsible for handling issues related to noise and dust from the construction process as well as managing workplace environment matters and other temporary matters both before, during and after the demolition phase.