The construction of the $2.3 billion New Royal Adelaide Hospital on remedial rail yards at the north-western corner of the Adelaide CBD is the single largest hospital infrastructure project undertaken in South Australia’s history. The 100,000m2 hospital is 11 storeys high and is expected to care for approximately 85,000 inpatients and 400,000 outpatients every year.

Our Role

Geotech was engaged for two completely separate work packages.

The initial contract encompassed the construction of a major soldier piled wall forming the western boundary of the new hospital site. The key feature of these works was the design and installation of 450 permanent Single Bore Multiple Anchor (SBMA) system ground anchors in the notoriously challenging Adelaide expansive clays. Due to Adelaide’s earthquake design criteria, this retaining wall was designed as freestanding, even though it was very close to the new hospital structure.

Following immediately behind these works was the main foundation piling package of works. Geotech constructed over 2000 continuous flight auger piles (CFA) 600/900/1200mm dia to depths of 30m. The site was divided into four main areas to enable staged hand-overs of each zone to the builder. Geotech commissioned its Enteco E25MD CFA Rig with 53tm torque on this project.

A comprehensive PDA testing program was completed to verify pile performance and QA criteria.

Disciplines covered

• CFA Piling – 2000 No. 600mm/900mm/1200 dia x 30m depth typical
• SBMA Permanent Ground Anchors – 450 No.
• Capping Beam : 400 lin m
• Shotcrete Infill Panels : 2000m2
• Dynamic Load Testing (PDA)