St Vincent’s Public Hospital in partnership with the NSW Government completed Australia’s first Psychiatric Alcohol and Non-Prescription Drug Assessment (PANDA) unit.  The project required the reconfiguration of the existing and busiest Emergency Department in Australia, to incorporate the new six bed ward. It was completed over seven stages (over a 21-month period) to ensure uninterrupted supply of essential services to the ED and continuous access to the busy ambulance bay and loading dock.
This project was highly complex and was further complicated by the COVID 19 Pandemic which resulted in added risks and procedures being required by the Emergency Department and those working within its confines.  Extensive design coordination and problem solving was required to deliver a successful project with minimal disturbance to the existing Hospital operations. 
The site was well managed, and the project completed to a high standard of finish under conditions of restricted access and an extremely busy live hospital environment.