The new clinic building at Hannover Medical School (MHH) is making rapid progress. Preparations are being made on the construction site this summer: The explosive ordnance survey is about to begin.
This summer, preparations will begin on the construction site for the new MHH building. Copyright: Sebastian Küke
MHH campus with the expansion area for the new building (marked in blue). Copyright for the aerial photo with graphic: Jan Tauwaldt/MHH
The new MHH clinic building - part of the largest construction project currently underway in Lower Saxony - is making progress. Preparation of the construction site will begin this summer. Before the new buildings can be erected on the brownfield site on Stadtfelddamm, the entire area must be carefully examined for explosive ordnance. This is because the construction site was hit by air raids during the Second World War. The analysis of historical aerial photographs has revealed suspected unexploded ordnance and suspicious structures.
Best possible preparation
A comprehensive protection concept was developed in order to minimise the impact on the MHH as a university hospital in its ongoing 24/7 operations in research, teaching and patient care. All measures are designed to ensure that large calibre munitions are not unintentionally released. Nevertheless, the protection concept also includes a worst-case scenario: the unexpected discovery of an aerial bomb. We are therefore optimally prepared for anything.
Container wall serves as protection
In order to provide patients, employees and students with the best possible protection during the exploratory work and also in the event of defusing or detonation, a protective wall made of containers will be erected along the Stadtfelddam in September as a precautionary measure. The container wall will be used to secure the construction site, minimise noise and dust and protect against splinters and blast waves in the event of an accident involving explosive ordnance during surface excavation. Critical MHH infrastructure, such as the free-standing air conditioning units on building K16 directly on the Stadtfelddamm, is also protected.
Everyone works closely together
Whether explosive ordnance clearance will be necessary in the autumn will become clear in the course of the geophysical investigation. In addition to the structural protection measures, organisational measures are also being taken. Staff management and the staff council, emergency and disaster medicine, nursing management, occupational and patient safety and many other members are working closely with the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Service and the Hanover Fire Brigade in a coordination team - drawing on the experience gained during the COVID pandemic.
Creating the Hannover Health Science Campus for the medicine of the future
"Preparing the construction site is an important step," explains MHH President Professor Dr Michael Manns. "The new hospital building offers us the unique opportunity to create a Hannover Health Science Campus for the medicine of the future."
Text: Inka Burow