Acute Mental Health Unit Project

The establishment of a new purpose-built Acute Mental Health facility is well underway. Construction commenced in Febraury 2023 and by August the foundation was complete. By December, the large structural beams were in place and roofing has begun. The forecast completion date is June 2025, and the budget $66.6 million.

The new unit will have 28 beds, and is 2,900 m2 in size. Looking to the future, there is provision for four to eight beds to be added. The building was design was inspired by the nearby mountain ranges - the Tararuas and the Ruahines. It will be welcoming, warm and make good use of natural light to enhance the therapeutic nature of care.

View the image gallery below to see the progress made.

Progress as 11 October 2024

Key to the design of our new facility is to provide a home-like environment, and to make use of natural light with windows, glass, indoor courtyards and skylights. Now more scaffolding is being removed the domestic style exterior finish can be seen.

  • Brick and timber cladding has been used on the building’s exterior

  • A courtyard

  • Another view of an internal courtyard

  • Glass walls to provide light

  • One of many skylights

Take another walk through our new acute mental health unit …

Take part in this virtual tour of our new Acute Mental Health Unit which is currently under construction. Not only will you get to see the work within, you will also get to see it from above. Courtesy of the main contractors, LT McGuiness, this virtual tour is brought to you to show progress as at the beginning of June 2024. Enjoy.

February 2024 video tour

September - December 2024

Key to the design of our new facility is to provide a home-like environment, and to make use of natural light with windows, glass, indoor courtyards and skylights. These elements can now be seen as the building work progresses.

  • Timber cladding on the exterior, and a pop of colour

  • The brick and timber cladding give a residential effect

  • Height and light make for a spacious feel

  • The external courtyard provides light and connection to the outdoors

  • Another view of the courtyard

  • Bedrooms have a view outside

  • Skylights are used throughout

May - August 2024

Construction continues and by the end of August much of external scaffolding has been removed

  • 17 May 2024

  • 24 May 2024 - Internal fitout underway

  • 7 June 2025 - brickwork, together with timber cladding, a key part of the design

  • 7 June 2024

  • 13 June 2024

  • A sample of the vinyl wall cladding for the corridor

  • 12 July 2024 - the plant room in the ceiling continues to take shape

  • 16 July 2024 - Minister Doocey and Suze Redmayne, MP for Rangitikei view progress

  • 19 July 2024

  • 2 August 2024 - windows and doors to internal courtyards being installed

  • 16 August 2024

  • 23 August 2024

  • 30 August 2024

  • 30 August 2024

1 Jan - 3 May 2024
Construction continues - roof completed

The new building is taking shape and work continues on the external cladding, the roof, and the interior structure.

  • 15 Jan 24 - work on the internal structure underway

  • 15 Jan 2024

  • 30 Jan 2024

    30 Jan 2024

  • 7 February 2024

  • 21 February 2024 - plant being installed in roof space

  • 8 March 2024 - windows going in

  • 8 March 2024 - a view from above

  • 14 March 2024 - the roof is nearing completion

  • 22 March 2024 - brickwork underway

  • 28 March 2024 - window installation progressing

  • 12 April 024

  • 2 May 2024 - Roof completed

    2 May 2024 - Roof completed

  • 2 May 2024 - Roof completed

Sep - Dec 2023 | Framing & construction

Framing and construction of the building began in September, and the large structural frames were in place by the end of the year. The design vision for the roof takes its inspiration from the nearby mountain ranges of the Tararuas and the Ruahines – made of high wooden interior ceilings to reflect the influence of the landscape.

  • 11 Aug 2023 - Framing erected and underway

  • 25 Aug 2023

  • Sep 2023 - Stage 1 roofing commences

  • 29 September 2023

  • 9 October 2023 - Roof framing and bracing well underway

  • Oct 2023 - Corrugated, colour steel roofing for Stage 1 is installed

  • 1 Nov 2023 - Stage 1 exterior wall framing and linings completed with roof package installation underway.

  • 10 Nov 2023 - Stage 2 advances with external framings, linings and roof structure progressing

  • 24 Nov 2023 - Stage 3 glulam structure is completed and the roof package is progressing.

  • 1 Dec 2023

Feb – Aug 2023 | Foundations completed

The foundation for our new Acute Mental Health Unit was completed on 23 August 2023, and took six months in total.

  • Feb 2023 - LT McGuinness now on site and enabling works

  • March 2023

  • Apr 2023 - First major concrete pour occurring for Stage 1 exterior foundation

  • Mya 2023

    May 2023

  • Jun 2023 - First section of Stage 1 foundation completed

  • Jul 2023 - Third pour for Stage 2 commences

  • July 2023

  • August 2023

  • Aug 2023 – Concrete foundations completed

Aug 2022 - Jan 2023 | Construction site cleared

Ahead of the construction crew commencing work, the building site was cleared of buildings and trees.  Pullar Cottage (previously used for doctors’ accommodation) was removed as a result of poor condition ruling out relocation. However, thanks to a deconstruction approach its lovely matai flooring, doors and window frames were able to be re-purposed. In addition to the surrounding trees that were required for removal, a plan for transferral was done in partnership with Pae Ora and local iwi. Many were transferred to other areas of the campus, while the large Totara tree was given to Rangitāne to be used for carvings that will form part of the new facility.

  • Pullar Cottage prior to removal

  • Deconstruction of Pullar Cottage commences

  • Last of Pullar Cottage

  • Site being cleared for new Acute Mental Health Unit

  • Site clearing nearing completion

  • Site cleared for ground works to begin

Feb 2020 - Sep 2023

The beginning - turning a concept into a detailed design

In February 2020 a concept design was developed. Government approval for the business case was received in September 2020. By March 2021, architects were appointed, and work on te preliminary design got underway. Preparations for developed design then began in October 2021. In June 2022 a cultural narrative was put in place to support the detailed design. This was Te Wao-nui-a-Tane, which translates as “The Great Forest of Tane” It reflects the ecosystem of integrated health. By September 2022 the detailed design was completed and procurement of a main contractor got underway.

  • The start of a concept design

  • Mar 2021 - Preliminary Design workshop for acute mental health unit launches

  • Apr 2021 - Preliminary design shared with local Heretaunga residents

  • AMHU entry design impression

  • AMHU Northern road view

  • AMHU street view

  • AMHU aerial view

  • May 2022 - detailed design commences (interior fit-out example)

  • Jun 2022 - Cultural narrative in place to support the detailed design