The NHS Nightingale Hospital North East was a 460-bed temporary COVID-19 facility built inside the Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Advanced Manufacturing, Washington, Tyne & Wear. Initially constructed in just over three weeks in April–May 2020, it remained on standby and later operated as a mass vaccination centre until March 2022.

Now, the site is being reconfigured for a permanent future. SCH Site Services was contracted by GMI Construction Group to deliver a comprehensive steelwork package that transformed the former field hospital into a multi-use facility.

SCH Site Services' Role

Partnering with GMI Construction Group, SCH were given the responsibility of overseeing the fabrication and installation of approximately 100 tonnes of structural steelwork, which included:

· A durable new canopy, protecting transit and entry areas.

· Support frameworks for waste and oil storage zones.

· Heavy-duty airlock and decontamination structures integrated into the existing facility.

· New steel supports for internal physics and chemistry labs.

This steel work has been closely integrated with the building’s existing steel structure, ensuring cohesion between old and new.

Project Progress

With all steel packages underway and the canopy and internal structures now in place; the transformation is taking shape.

This project demonstrates SCH Site Services’ capability to work within technically demanding environments. Our team delivered:

· Accuracy in engineering and installation of steel to existing structures.

· Precision co‑ordination with M&E and civil teams to align erection sequences.

· Safe working practices on a live, or once‑live, facility repurposed during the build.

Whether working in brand-new builds or sensitive repurposing projects like this, SCH brings the same planning, attention to detail, and high standards.

Result & Community Impact

From a rapid response hospital to a thoughtfully reimagined facility, this project represents another way SCH supports critical infrastructure, in this case, helping Sunderland move beyond the pandemic with renewed purpose for this site.