After Robins & Morton led the construction of the Sierra Providence East Medical Center in El Paso, which opened in 2008, Tenet Healthcare Corp. invited the contractor to provide preconstruction and general contracting services for the facility’s new $43.8-million South Tower and Emergency Department Expansion project.

The project built a 107,984-sq-ft tower at the south side of the center’s main entrance, a 21,140-sq-ft expansion of the existing emergency department and an additional 32,667 sq ft of renovations.

One challenge on the new four-story tower was the relocation of ambulance access to the emergency department as it was being expanded into existing ambulance ramps. The contractor built a temporary ramp and canopy at the hospital’s loading dock and a team worked weekends to install a temporary drive and reroute traffic from the main entrance.

The primary challenge was working in close proximity to ongoing critical care operations without causing disruption. Robins & Morton built temporary walls to isolate ongoing medical center activity from noise and debris and used infection-control measures such as air monitors and particulate counters throughout the project site.

Close communication between the construction team and hospital staff facilitated coordination, particularly during critical activities such as utility tie-ins that included coring through the concrete of the existing structure to connect plumbing lines in the new tower, .

The project team completed the 22-month project on time, within budget and with no lost-time accidents. Robins & Morton also provided an additional waterproof exterior finish that gave the entire facility a face lift and improved weather protection.

Sierra Providence East Medical Center

El Paso, Texas

Key Players
Owner Tenet Healthcare Corp.
Lead Design Firm  Sterling Barnett Little Inc.
General Contractor Robins & Morton
Structural Engineer Frank W. Neal & Assoc.
Civil Engineer CSA Consulting Engineers
MEP Engineer HPMB Engineers