This challenging hospital project provides the physical structure for the second phase of expansion at the University of Washington Medical Center (UWMC). MacDonald-Miller completed Phase I in 2011. This second phase increases safety and quality of service to patients in a modern, high-performance environment. The project allows a more streamlined, integrated organizational structure for the interventional services including surgery, interventional cardiology and radiology, diagnostic radiology, and peripheral supporting areas. Additional inpatient beds will also be provided.
“A project of this size and speed has taken a high level of collaboration between the design and construction teams. This project delivery method is filledwithchallenges but will ultimately result in an efficient installation done right the first time,” Says, Rory Olson, Detailing Manager. “Our success on projects like these is critical as field installation times are getting shorter and shorter on every project.”
In order to maintain continuous hospital operations throughout the construction, the project is organized sequentially in multiple phases, allowing for incremental occupancy milestones. This phasing remains flexible due to patient and operation needs or infrastructure requirements. The work will occur in or adjacent to mechanical, electrical and other infrastructure that must continue to support patients. Patient and life safety will be of primary importance and, of course, must be carefully considered.
“It’s an exciting project”, states Senior Project Manager, John Solem. “Mortenson and UWMC are implementing lean practices and we’re installing our prefabricated multi-trade racks which means less workers on site. It’s safer and quieter with smaller crew sizes and we’re doing as much work off site as possible.”
Because this massive project is being executed while the hospital is fully occupied, immense scheduling and coordination must occur throughout the project. The mechanical scope of work is literally sandwiched between patients in the NICU and cancer care. These two areas reside on different floors yet share common plumbing risers – this means that work in each individual room will have to be accomplished simultaneously. Renovations must be perfectly orchestrated between the nursing staff and construction team so that patient care goes undisrupted.
To hear more about MacDonald-Miller’s approach to construction check out their latest video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZevnBXmzTc&feature=youtu.be.
Article written by Nicole Martin