When major construction or refurbishment work takes place at a busy NHS hospital, maintaining a professional and welcoming environment is especially important. Building work is often unavoidable, but that doesn’t mean patients, staff and visitors should have to look at an unattractive construction site.
Hospital construction hoarding provides an effective way of concealing building work while communicating important messages about ongoing improvements to healthcare facilities.
Project Print Management (PPM) was commissioned by MTX to produce and install digitally printed construction hoarding at an NHS hospital in Oxford, part of Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
The project involved several different elevations, changes in direction and varying ground levels. Using digitally printed aluminium composite material (ACM) panels with an additional anti-graffiti protective film, we delivered a high-quality finish across the construction site.
The finished installation demonstrates how well-designed hoarding graphics can transform a temporary construction boundary into a professional visual feature.
Why Hospital Construction Hoarding Matters
Hospitals are unlike most other construction environments. They remain operational throughout refurbishment programmes, often welcoming thousands of patients, visitors and staff while essential improvement work continues.
Construction areas can be particularly disruptive to the appearance of a hospital, especially when located near public roads, pedestrian routes, entrances or car parks.
Professionally printed hospital construction hoarding offers several important benefits:
- Improved appearance: Conceals unattractive construction areas behind high-quality graphics.
- Clear communication: Informs patients and visitors about ongoing improvement programmes.
- Positive messaging: Reinforces the hospital’s commitment to improving healthcare facilities.
- Professional presentation: Creates a consistent, visually attractive boundary around the construction site.
- Additional durability: Suitable materials and protective finishes help maintain the appearance of the hoarding throughout the project.
For an NHS hospital, the graphics can also provide reassurance that disruption is part of a wider investment in patient care.
Printed Hoarding for MTX at Oxford University Hospitals
Our client, MTX, was involved in upgrading essential hospital infrastructure at Oxford University Hospitals.
Rather than leaving the construction perimeter as a series of plain, unattractive hoarding panels, the project incorporated a professionally designed graphic scheme reflecting the hospital’s investment in its future.
The printed artwork featured prominent messages including:
“Investing in a Better Patient Experience”
“Shaping the Future of Healthcare”
“Putting Patients First”
“Better, Greener, Faster”
These messages were combined with photographic images of modern hospital facilities, NHS branding and information explaining the purpose of the improvement works.
The result was a visually consistent installation communicating a positive message to everyone passing the site.
Importantly, the hoarding provided a substantial display area without requiring additional advertising structures or signage.
Installing Printed Hoarding Across Multiple Elevations and Sloping Ground
One of the main challenges of this project was the layout of the construction site.
Unlike a straightforward, single-length hoarding installation, the Oxford hospital project extended around several elevations, incorporating changes in direction, corners, access gates and varying ground levels.
This required careful consideration of how the graphics would flow around the perimeter.
A relatively minor change in ground level can become surprisingly noticeable when installing rigid printed panels over a long distance. Without careful planning, panel junctions and horizontal graphic elements can appear inconsistent.
Similarly, where hoarding changes direction around a corner, the artwork needs to be considered from multiple viewing positions.
The project therefore required close attention to panel positioning, alignment and the overall appearance of the completed installation.
The photographs demonstrate how the graphic scheme continues around the different elevations, maintaining a coordinated appearance despite the irregular site layout.
These are exactly the types of challenges that Project Print Management specialises in managing.
Why We Used Digitally Printed ACM Hoarding Panels
For this installation, the graphics were produced on digitally printed aluminium composite material (ACM).
ACM is a popular material for construction hoarding because it combines a rigid, relatively lightweight structure with a smooth surface suitable for high-quality digital printing.
Compared with some more temporary graphic materials, ACM offers several advantages.
High-quality photographic reproduction
The hospital artwork incorporated large photographic images, corporate branding, detailed information and bold typography.
Digitally printed ACM provides a smooth, consistent surface capable of reproducing these elements with excellent clarity.
Rigid and professional finish
Rigid panels are particularly effective where a clean, flat appearance is important.
Once correctly installed onto a suitable supporting structure, they create a professional finish rather than the flexible appearance associated with some banner materials.
Suitable for outdoor environments
ACM panels are well suited to external construction hoarding applications when appropriately specified and installed.
They can provide a durable finish throughout the period of a construction or refurbishment programme.
Flexibility for different site layouts
Panels can be manufactured and positioned to accommodate corners, changes in direction and different hoarding sections.
This flexibility is valuable on complex sites where the perimeter is rarely a simple straight line.
Anti-Graffiti Film for Additional Protection
An important part of the specification for the Oxford hospital construction hoarding was the application of anti-graffiti protective film.
Construction hoarding can remain in place for extended periods and is frequently positioned in publicly accessible locations.
Unfortunately, this makes the graphics vulnerable to graffiti, dirt and other surface contamination.
Applying a specialist anti-graffiti film provides an additional protective layer over the digitally printed artwork.
Depending on the product specification and type of contamination, this can make graffiti easier to remove without damaging the underlying print.
The film also helps protect the printed surface against everyday wear.
For hospitals, commercial developments and other prominent public locations, this additional protection can be a worthwhile investment.
Replacing damaged printed hoarding panels can be expensive and disruptive. Specifying the appropriate protective finish from the outset can therefore help reduce future maintenance requirements.
Turning a Construction Site into a Positive Message with Hospital construction hoarding
One of the most effective aspects of this project was the design of the artwork itself.
The graphics did more than conceal the building work. They explained why the work was taking place.
Instead of presenting patients and visitors with a construction site that might appear disruptive, the printed hoarding highlighted investment in improved healthcare facilities.
Bold typography, carefully selected photographs and consistent NHS branding helped reinforce the hospital’s commitment to improving the patient experience.
The artwork also made effective use of the available space.
Long horizontal sections of hoarding provided an opportunity to display large messages that could be read from a distance, while smaller sections incorporated supporting information and branding.
This approach can be particularly effective for hospitals, universities, transport infrastructure and other public-sector construction projects.
Specialist Printed Hoarding Installation from Project Print Management
At Project Print Management, we understand that producing a high-quality print is only one part of a successful hoarding project.
The installation needs to be carefully managed, particularly where the site includes multiple elevations, changes in ground level, corners or restricted access.
Our experience includes printed hoardings for major construction projects, historic buildings, healthcare environments and prestigious commercial locations.
We work with clients and contractors to identify practical solutions for challenging large-format print installations.
Our services include project planning, print specification, production management and professional installation.
Whether the requirement is a straightforward run of printed construction hoarding or a complex perimeter incorporating multiple elevations, we focus on delivering a consistently high standard of finish.
The Finished Hospital Construction Hoarding in Oxford
The completed MTX project at Oxford University Hospitals is a good example of how printed construction hoarding can enhance the appearance of an active building site.
Despite the different elevations, changes in direction and varying ground levels, the finished installation presented a coordinated visual message around the construction perimeter.
The combination of digitally printed ACM panels, engaging NHS artwork and anti-graffiti protective film created an attractive and practical solution.
For Project Print Management, it was another opportunity to demonstrate that challenging site conditions don’t have to compromise the quality of the finished print installation.
Need Printed Construction Hoarding for Your Next Project?
Project Print Management specialises in high-quality printed hoardings, building wraps, scaffold wraps and bespoke large-format print installations throughout the UK.
If you’re planning an NHS hospital refurbishment, commercial development or major construction project, we can help you identify the most suitable print materials and installation approach.
Contact Project Print Management to discuss your next printed hoarding project.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is hospital construction hoarding?
Hospital construction hoarding is a temporary boundary installed around construction or refurbishment areas within a hospital environment. It can be finished with digitally printed graphics to conceal building work, communicate project information and maintain a professional appearance.
What material is best for printed hospital hoarding?
Aluminium composite material (ACM) is often an excellent choice for external hospital hoarding graphics. It provides a rigid, smooth printing surface and can be specified with additional protective film for durability.
Can printed ACM hoarding be installed on sloping ground?
Yes. Printed ACM panels can be installed on hoarding across varying ground levels, provided the supporting structure and panel layout have been appropriately designed. Careful setting out is important to maintain an attractive finish.
Why use anti-graffiti film on printed hoarding?
Anti-graffiti film provides an additional protective layer that can help make certain types of graffiti and surface contamination easier to remove. This can help extend the serviceable appearance of the printed graphics.
