St John of God Ballarat Hospital has marked a major milestone in its redevelopment project with the official completion of the structure of the new wing. A ‘topping out’ ceremony was held recently and was attended by representatives from the design and construction teams - BESIX Watpac and H.Troon, alongside the Hospital Management Committee.
The topping out ceremony is a traditional construction milestone that marks the completion of the structural frame of a building. It is a time to celebrate the progress of the project and to thank the people who have made it possible.
In his speech at the ceremony, St John of God Ballarat Hospital CEO Alex Demidov, said that the topping out was a significant moment for the hospital and the community.
"This is a major milestone in our redevelopment project," he said. "It’s a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved." Mr Demidov also stated the redevelopment is on track to be completed by Q2 2024.
"The project still remains on schedule and on budget," he said. "We are confident that the new medical services building will help to expand our services for the Ballarat community, to allow us to provide the best possible care to our patients.
BESIX Watpac has been an integral part of the delivery team since 2022, and Matthew Dalmau, Operations Manager (Vic) joined the event to celebrate the culmination of the project team’s collective efforts.
"This project truly embodies the spirit of collaboration, and today provides a wonderful opportunity to express our gratitude for the team's exceptional expertise in delivering complex hospital infrastructure for the local community."
As the structure of the new wing is now completed, works will now begin on the inside, and the installation of the façade will also commence. These works are due to be completed by the end of September 2023. The façade will give the building a modern look that also ties into the heritage and history of Ballarat.
