VCU Health | Comprehensive Liver Care Unit
VCU Health | Comprehensive Liver Care Unit | Richmond, VA
The DPR team renovated the seventh floor of VCU Medical Center's Main Hospital, converting the former pediatric area into fully private inpatient rooms for liver patients. This renovation resulted in more than two dozen new patient rooms and updates to several existing ones. The project occurred within an active hospital tower, situated between active labor and delivery floors and requiring close coordination with the VCU Health team throughout the project's duration.
Partners
About The Project
Planning with all stakeholders began early during the design phase, ensuring alignment from the project's beginning. Coordination with VCU Health and the City of Richmond was essential for the success of the downtown building renovation to ensure minimal disruptions occurred. Demolition permits were secured early in the project's timeline, allowing for abatement and demolition to proceed while design work was finalized. DPR worked off-hours, including nights and weekends, to minimize potential impacts on city and hospital operations. Additionally, a staggered buyout process for equipment was implemented to accommodate the medical center's accelerated schedule.
DPR is grateful for yet another opportunity to work with VCU Health, reinforcing a successful partnership that has developed throughout the years. The foundation of this collaboration is built on mutual trust and respect, which we strive to uphold in every project we undertake together.
THE Challenges
The accelerated timeline presented notable challenges, as it was two months shorter than the original schedule. Ensuring that all necessary demolition permits and equipment were aligned with the revised deadlines added further pressure to the timely completion of the project.
One major concern of working in an active medical center involves managing the noise and clutter to ensure minimal disruption for patients and staff. Additionally, careful planning of utility interruptions on operational floors is essential for maintaining hospital functions. Thirdly, it is vital to ensure that sterile environments in critical care areas are preserved to prevent any risk of contamination throughout the renovation process.
Building in a downtown city presents numerous challenges, particularly concerning safety for pedestrians, drivers and nearby workers. It is crucial to carefully plan road closures to minimize disruptions while ensuring that ambulances and patients can maintain easy access to the medical center's main entrances. Balancing construction needs with community safety was a top priority.
THE
Challenges
The accelerated timeline presented notable challenges, as it was two months shorter than the original schedule. Ensuring that all necessary demolition permits and equipment were aligned with the revised deadlines added further pressure to the timely completion of the project.
One major concern of working in an active medical center involves managing the noise and clutter to ensure minimal disruption for patients and staff. Additionally, careful planning of utility interruptions on operational floors is essential for maintaining hospital functions. Thirdly, it is vital to ensure that sterile environments in critical care areas are preserved to prevent any risk of contamination throughout the renovation process.
Building in a downtown city presents numerous challenges, particularly concerning safety for pedestrians, drivers and nearby workers. It is crucial to carefully plan road closures to minimize disruptions while ensuring that ambulances and patients can maintain easy access to the medical center's main entrances. Balancing construction needs with community safety was a top priority.
THE Solutions
The early procurement of the air handling unit and headwalls were instrumental in meeting VCU Health's accelerated schedule. By splitting the original contract in two, DPR could directly purchase the air handling unit from OES before the design and final contract were completed, ensuring the equipment was delivered on schedule. Additionally, by working during the design phase to finalize the early release package for the headwalls, DPR successfully acquired them ahead of the final GMP, further supporting the project's aggressive timeline.
The DPR SPW team demonstrated their unique capabilities by facilitating a quick and quiet installation of patient lifts within an active hospital, a task they hadn’t undertaken in the Richmond area for many years. Their expertise in the facility's complex MEP infrastructure enabled them to effectively lead the planning and scheduling for the facility shutdown, successfully managing over 200 utilities without causing disruptions to hospital operations. This proficiency in high-stakes environments sets SPW apart as a differentiator in the industry.
The use of the buck hoist elevator greatly improved the movement of materials required for renovations in the downtown area. Additionally, two 550-ton cranes were deployed to safely position the new rooftop units (RTUs) on the existing building. Throughout this process, minimal disruption was ensured by managing road closures and coordinating with city permits. This careful planning allowed the project to proceed smoothly while prioritizing the safety of construction workers, hospital staff, and the public.
THE
Solutions
The early procurement of the air handling unit and headwalls were instrumental in meeting VCU Health's accelerated schedule. By splitting the original contract in two, DPR could directly purchase the air handling unit from OES before the design and final contract were completed, ensuring the equipment was delivered on schedule. Additionally, by working during the design phase to finalize the early release package for the headwalls, DPR successfully acquired them ahead of the final GMP, further supporting the project's aggressive timeline.
The DPR SPW team demonstrated their unique capabilities by facilitating a quick and quiet installation of patient lifts within an active hospital, a task they hadn’t undertaken in the Richmond area for many years. Their expertise in the facility's complex MEP infrastructure enabled them to effectively lead the planning and scheduling for the facility shutdown, successfully managing over 200 utilities without causing disruptions to hospital operations. This proficiency in high-stakes environments sets SPW apart as a differentiator in the industry.
The use of the buck hoist elevator greatly improved the movement of materials required for renovations in the downtown area. Additionally, two 550-ton cranes were deployed to safely position the new rooftop units (RTUs) on the existing building. Throughout this process, minimal disruption was ensured by managing road closures and coordinating with city permits. This careful planning allowed the project to proceed smoothly while prioritizing the safety of construction workers, hospital staff, and the public.
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