Harmony in the team is crucial to success

The Hague-based contracting company Dijkxhoorn bouwgroep has hospital construction and renovation in its DNA. It was awarded the contract to carry out a major renovation in a very short time: connecting the First-Aid Department (EHH) to the Emergency Department (SEH) of the Haaglanden Medical Center (HMC), location Westeinde in The Hague. 

"Part of the First Cardiac Care, a specialized emergency department for patients with acute heart problems, was previously located in the hospital building itself," says project manager Stefano van Veen. "To optimize this care and get patients to the right place faster, the question was whether we could move this department to a location right next to the Emergency Department. In concrete terms, this meant: stripping the department next to the existing ER down to the concrete and building eight fully equipped treatment rooms in its place. This will allow the ER and the ED to work together efficiently from now on." 

"The biggest challenge was not necessarily in the work itself," Van Veen explains. "It was mainly the location and the short time frame that made it exciting. We had to work next to one of the largest SEHs in the Netherlands, which runs 24/7. On the other side were several polyclinics located. That meant few quiet moments and, on the contrary, lots of visitors. All transportation of materials had to go through this busy area. How do you do that and create as little inconvenience as possible, especially from dust and noise? That was quite a puzzle. We arranged our transports mainly before 07:00 or after 17:00. All materials were thereby delivered and transported to the right destination in closed containers."

The renovation began in late October 2023. Just 14 weeks later, completion was scheduled, to welcome the first patient two days after. So to work. Van Veen: "We deliberately looked at reusing materials beforehand and reused parts of the ceiling system and ceiling tiles, for example. We then installed soundproof walls, floors, frames and doors. For the installation of electricity, water supply, air treatment and installations with medical gases, such as oxygen and medical compressed air, we used specialized subcontractors. After all, these are installations that you can't and don't want just anyone tinkering with. We have been working with some of them for 30 years." 

Dijkxhoorn construction group also has a unique service: it has an in-house interior design workshop. "For this project we made and assembled the bedside panels and pantries ourselves, according to the design of the regular architect the HMC works with. This also saves time in planning. Everything is made of materials that are easy to clean."  

Where the schedule initially seemed like a big worry child, the project went smoothly and the deadline was met. "If only all works went like this," Van Veen laughs. "I have only one explanation for this: the harmony in the team. It is crucial to this success. Because of our expertise in the hospital business, we don't have to explain anything to our people anymore either. Many challenges were resolved among themselves and I received just a phone call at the end of the day with an update. Truly every party was driven to meet the tight schedule, from subcontractor and client to consultant and architect. Plus our own people, of course. That is also one of the great advantages of working together often and for longer: you know exactly what to expect from each other. It doesn't get any better than that. I am really incredibly proud of this top team."