Emory Johns Creek Hospital | Vertical Expansion

Emory Johns Creek Hospital | Vertical Expansion | Johns Creek, Georgia

This vertical expansion project grew the hospital at Emory Johns Creek from 110 beds to 150 beds. Despite relentless challenges, record-breaking months of rainfall, and a global pandemic, the DPR team delivered the project four days ahead of substantial completion.

The two-story, 70,000-sq.-ft. vertical expansion added a fifth and sixth floor to the existing main patient tower, including 40 medical/surgical patient units and support spaces, CEP addition, Fire Command Center, and unfinished shell space.

Project Details

Technology helped to set the stage for a team environment on this project. DPR worked with the trade partners and design team to develop a complete 3D BIM model to fabricate and build from, avoiding potential conflicts and resulting in timely completion. The conflicts identified and resolved through the BIM modeling process saved days of installation in the field and allowed real-time communication of project developments.

Use of PlanGrid™ became critical to the team's efficiency resulting in the project finishing early and on budget, handling all documentation from Contract Documents to Field Reports and photos for the project. The ability to keep all drawing sets in one place and seamlessly uploading new revision sets allowed the team to focus on the critical items of the project allowing team members to work from the app in the field or the office, syncing multiple teams.

DPR also used HammerTech which allowed the team to track training verification including DPR and site safety orientations, as well as competent person requirements. It also allowed the team to track trade partner progress to meet DPR and the client requirements.

Water intrusion is always a major risk with vertical expansions and prevention is critical. The DPR project team came up with a solution to prevent water intrusion by crafting “dog houses” which protected the exposed areas of the roof during construction. The dog houses successfully prevented any water intrusion despite the unprecedented amount of rainfall during the project.

DPR teams self-performed selective demolition, carpentry for the doghouses and elevator shafts, and concrete as well as the interior drywall, doors/frames/hardware, and specialties.