Ryman Healthcare Refurbishments

In 2018, Ryman Healthcare engaged Built Construction Group to undertake significant renovation work at three of its retirement villages in the Wellington region, being Rita Angus (Kilbirnie), Shona Macfarlane (Avalon), and Malvina Major (Johnsonville). Ryman Healthcare has over 40 retirement villages across Australasia.

The layouts were altered, and the fit-outs and facilities in each of the villages upgraded, to provide a higher quality of living for the residents and to better accommodate staff. In particular, we completed the following:

Rita Angus – new lift added, and alterations made to each level

Shona Macfarlane – large extension of the village

Malvina Major – additional amenities and function area added.

Ryman Healthcare designed the projects, and we worked closely with its professional quantity surveyor to tender trades and prepare contracts for each stage of the builds at the respective villages. The work was undertaken on an open book, honesty basis.

Covid-19 meant there was a shortage of builders in the Wellington region during 2021, which created challenges in finding labour requirements. But we persisted, and the projects continued to progress to the desired result. The three contracts were all completed by 2022.

We had up to 20 carpenters working on these projects at any one time. We also engaged the following subcontractors:

• Civil Engineers – roading and entrance works
• Concrete specialists – foundations and slabs
• Steel fabricators – structural extensions
• Fire and mechanical specialists – building services
• Solid plasterers – exterior cladding
• Roofing contractors – membrane and tiles
• Flooring contractors – vinyl, tiling, timber floors and carpet
• Plumbers – kitchens, bathrooms, function rooms
• Joiners – kitchen, bathrooms, function rooms and services
• Window joiners – skylights, windows and doors
• Electrical/data specialists – lighting and power throughout, healthcare services
• Decorators – plaster and paint.

As is often the case when projects are taking place in live environments, we had to carry out all works with a high level of planning to allow the villages to continue to function throughout the works and with as little disruption as possible. We are well experienced working in such situations having completed many projects in live environments.

Ryman Healthcare were very good to us, particularly as the workload increased across the villages helping us build a solid team around us. The residents at the three villages are extremely happy with the renovations and are now enjoying the newly created spaces.