Yare Valley Medical Centre

Lionwood Medical Centre held its official opening in July 2016, inviting local residents in north-east Norwich to a family fun-day, to showcase its state of the art facilities.

Panks, who are proud to have been a key contractor in this re-development of an old primary school site into a modern medical centre, were responsible for all mechanical design and installation.

Lionwood Medical Centre is the expansion and relocation of two medical practices run under the Yare Valley Medical Practice.

Its GP surgery currently serves in excess of 8000 patients.

In a joint venture with Draper and Nichols Ltd – the principal contractor and builders, Panks were selected to take on the design and installation of all heating works, hot and cold water systems, mechanical ventilation, above ground foul drainage and a simple and cost-effective building management system.

Don Elworthy, Senior Contracts Manager at Panks said, “We were pleased to be chosen and it was a pleasure to work with the client and the end-user.”

Granted full design responsibility for the budgeted £345,000 project, Don and his team conferred with the architects and Draper and Nichols before putting mechanical services onto the plans, ensuring building regulations stipulations were met.

Over two storeys, the 16 modern consulting rooms, minor operations and treatment room, waiting room, on-site pharmacy, offices, training rooms and all staff areas were equipped with heating systems; ceiling mounted radiant panels, radiators and individual room thermostats.

Some spaces were fitted with air-conditioning units which Panks sub-contracted along with underfloor heating. Panks provided all spaces with forced ventilation, including hot and cold air-handling units and ductwork, with all pipe and ductwork insulated.

Panks installed hot and cold water systems in the plant room and throughout the building; hand-wash facilities, toilet and shower facilities, sanitary ware and a specialist sluice waste disposal.

In order to ensure a seamless transition for the medical centre staff the project was on a tight build programme with a 4 month time scale. After commissioning the project in July 2016, Don said “I’m pleased to say we built on time, in budget and snag-free.”

Don added “I love what I do. I love the job.”