A topping-out ceremony marks the building reaching its highest level

A significant milestone in the construction of the first NHS National Rehabilitation Centre (NRC) was marked this week with a topping-out ceremony at the site.

IHP, a joint venture between VINCI Building and Sir Robert McAlpine, hosted the formal ceremony at the Stanford Hall Rehabilitation Estate near Loughborough yesterday afternoon.

The event began with a piper leading guests onto the roof of the new three-storey NRC, before key individuals were invited to cement their involvement in the programme by signing their names in concrete.

Topping out is a common tradition within the construction sector, marking a building reaching its highest level.

For the NRC, this also means the completion of the building’s frame, symbolising another important milestone in the journey of this pioneering rehabilitation centre.

The £105m NRC programme is building a 70-bed, state-of-the-art and highly-energy-efficient new facility, to be run by Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust.

The project is part of the Government’s New Hospital Programme and, once in operation, research, innovation, and training will be led by academic partners, Loughborough University and the University of Nottingham.

The NRC is due to open in 2025 and aims to transform clinical treatment for patients in the East Midlands and set a new standard for research and innovation, and education and training in rehabilitation for the whole of the UK.

Miriam Duffy, NRC director, said: “We began this journey almost eight years ago in 2016, and so today’s milestone is testament to the teamwork and perseverance that have brought us to this point, which is another step towards opening our doors to patients in need of rehabilitation.

“The NRC will not only serve as a centre rehabilitation excellence, but also as a symbol of hope for countless individuals and families across the country and we look forward to welcoming patients next year so we can help them start their own journey towards a better future with as much independence as possible.”

Mark Bessey, sector director at IHP, added: “This topping-out ceremony provides an opportunity to celebrate the exemplary collaboration and the technical excellence of the project team.

“IHP is proud to be working with Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust on delivering this flagship facility for the New Hospital Programme.

“The NRC sets new standards in terms of healthcare innovation and sustainability, providing world-class rehabilitation for patients and outstanding facilities for ongoing research and development.”

National property and construction consultancy, EDGE, is providing project management and NEC supervision services for the delivery of the scheme, with key project team members joining the event to mark the occasion.

Joanne Hardwicke, project manager and associate director at EDGE, said: “We’re really pleased to see such an important milestone being reached on the NRC scheme this week and it was excellent to come together with our delivery partners to celebrate the progress being made on site.

“EDGE is delighted to play its part in bringing together patient care, research, training, and education under one roof through this high-quality bespoke treatment facility to positively contribute to patient wellbeing.”

Recently, a timelapse of the first six months of the build and drone footage was released to give the public an insight into the ongoing development of the project.