Built to serve a growing region, the new 365,000-sq-ft acute care facility provides 110 private patient rooms, ten surgical suites and nearly 30 emergency care rooms. The project also included a 400-vehicle parking deck, a 1,050-space surface parking lot, a 25,000-sq-ft energy plant and 60,000-sq-ft medical office building, as well as provisions for expansion as needs evolve.

The project team navigated multiple design and scope changes throughout the project while developing a phased turnover approach to meet the hospital’s “go live” deadlines. Critical areas were fast-tracked for early completion, including a “pandemic unit” isolation ward that incorporated HVAC and architectural changes to provide negative pressure across the entire space. The turnover schedule was synchronized with staff training programs to allow each space to be immediately opened upon substantial completion without compromising safety for staff, patients, visitors and workers.

Another aid to the accelerated schedule was the use of an innovative two-rack prefabricated MEP system that included a conduit-only top rack installed tight to the overhead deck, a composite trade rack system installed immediately below. This unique layering and configuration allowed the electrical contractor to begin BIM coordination and prefabrication of the rack in its home office shop. Other prefabrication work took place at a warehouse located close to the project. Four co-located trade contractor BIM teams worked collaboratively to produce 2D/3D coordinated construction drawings. This Lean construction approach moved 46,000 work hours off site, saved $1 million in fabrication costs and reduced the project schedule by three months, while also improving jobsite safety and construction quality.