May 30th, 2022
Soletanche SAM has successfully completed work on the Princess Grace hospital complex
The Principality of Monaco opted to modernise and enlarge its hospital complex to create the NCHPG (Nouveau Centre Hospitalier Princesse Grace) to meet the growing need for hospital resources. The worksite launched in 2015 and final completion is scheduled for 2032.
To make space in the principality, it is often necessary to turn to the mountain. During an initial phase of work in 2015, a structure was built below the existing hospital as a foundation for the new hospital complex, into which traffic was diverted. At the same time, a diaphragm wall was constructed along the length of the current hospital to allow the second phase of work, involving vertical earthwork to a depth of 40m alongside the existing one, to house the future multi-storey car park and the technical rooms of the new hospital complex.
To support this diaphragm wall, VINCI Construction Monaco entrusted Soletanche SAM with the construction of 255 active IRS anchors, spread over five levels, as well as 26 deep drains and 24 micropiles. This retaining structure is crucial in the complicated phasing of the project as it enables activity to continue, throughout the duration of the works, at the only public hospital in the Principality.
From the beginning of November 2021 until the end of April 2022, two DCH147 drilling rigs equipped with Hi Drill® heads were used to drill the 8000 linear metres of anchors. The tight and complex phasing was undertaken in parallel with the excavation, scraping and spar-laying workshops, descending level by level to the bottom of the excavation of the structure. The major challenge of this vertical project was coordinating each step in the installation of the anchors, with intense simultaneous work by different trades.
In this sensitive environment, limiting noise pollution was a key issue for the Principality of Monaco. The Hi Drill® technology and the cladding of the drilling rigs were key advantages which significantly reduced the acoustic levels of our work for occupants of the hospital complex, in order to scrupulously respect the thresholds requested by the owner throughout the worksite.
A great new achievement by our teams – congratulations to everyone.
