The commission from the healthcare client, Exempla (now SCL Health), was straightforward: build us a 360-bed acute care replacement hospital in Denver with 21 ORs (two of them hybrids), 42 ED rooms (12 dedicated to eldercare), a 20,000-sf central utility plant, and 1,100 parking spaces. And, by the way, do it in 30 months.
Mortenson Construction and its partners completed the 831,000-sf, $623 million Saint Joseph Hospital well before the January 1, 2015, deadline, thanks largely to their extensive use of offsite prefabrication.
Mortenson found that for every dollar spent on prefab, about 13% of the investment would be returned as a quantifiable benefit to the project. Prefabrication was also seen as the only way to complete the project within the client’s rigorous schedule.
The team went all-out on modularity. They physically tested four different mockups of shower pan systems before arriving at a trench drain system where the entire room floor sloped toward the drain. Based on an evaluation of a full bathroom pod mockup, the team determined that the ceiling height could be reduced from nine feet to seven feet, 11 inches, saving $110,000.
The bathroom provider, Oldcastle Modular Eggrock Pods, produced 440 pods, 257 of which went into patient rooms.
The team completed 376 headwalls entirely in a nearby warehouse, along with 250 multi-trade prefabbed mechanical racks, each measuring 8x25 feet.
The hospital, which is being operated jointly with National Jewish Health, opened on time earlier this year.
PROJECT SUMMARY
HONORABLE MENTION
Saint Joseph Hospital
Denver, Colo.
BUILDING TEAM
Submitting firm: Mortenson Construction (CM/GC)
Owner: SCL Health
Architect: ESJH Design Team (joint venture of Davis Partnership, H+L Architecture, and ZGF Architects)
Interior architect: H+L Architecture
Structural/civil engineer: Martin/Martin
MEP engineer: Cator, Ruma & Associates
GENERAL INFORMATION
Project size: 831,327 sf
Construction cost: $360 million; total cost: $623 million
Construction time: December 2011 to July 2014
Delivery method: CM at risk
Related Stories
Airports | Jul 8, 2022
Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport’s new terminal prioritizes passenger experience and sustainability
McCarthy Building Companies recently completed construction of the final concourse in Terminal 4 at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
Architects | Jul 7, 2022
Page acquires AE giant EYP to form 1,300-person international design firm
The combined firm will “be able to invest in research and thought leadership to co-create with our clients,” stated Page CEO Thomas McCarthy.
Building Team | Jul 7, 2022
Report explores improving architect/contractor relationship
A new study by the American Institute of Architects and the Associated General Contractors of America focuses on improving the relationship between architects and contractors.
Airports | Jul 7, 2022
Love at first flight: The power of first impressions in airports
As architects, how we design a terminal and choreograph the passenger experience can stir up strong feelings.
Building Team | Jul 7, 2022
Amenity-rich rental property in Chicago includes seven-story atrium with vertical landscaping
The recently opened 198-unit Optima Lakeview luxury rental apartment building in Chicago is bursting with amenities such as the region’s first year-round rooftop pool, contact-free in-home package delivery, housekeeping services, on-site room service, fitness programming, and a virtual personal assistant.
Multifamily Housing | Jul 6, 2022
The power of contextual housing development
Creating urban villages and vibrant communities starts with a better understanding of place, writes LPA's Matthew Porreca.
Building Team | Jul 6, 2022
Buro Happold selects Jennifer Price for top role, US Managing Director
Buro Happold, a world-class practice of 2,200 engineers and consultants, has announced the appointment of Seattle-based Jennifer Price as US Managing Director and Partner.
University Buildings | Jul 6, 2022
Wenzhou-Kean University opens a campus building that bridges China’s past and future
After pandemic-related stops and starts, Wenzhou-Kean University’s Ge Hekai Hall has finally begun to see full occupancy.
Security and Life Safety | Jul 5, 2022
What AEC firms should look for in a cybersecurity partner
When looking for expert partners in cybersecurity, AEC firms will find quite a lot of companies claiming to be at the forefront of modern threats. Here are five key points to look for when choosing a cybersecurity firm.
Performing Arts Centers | Jul 5, 2022
Tour the new Patricia Reser Center for the Arts in Oregon
This month, the community of Beaverton, Oregon, welcomed a new haven for artistic expression with the opening of Patricia Reser Center for the Arts (The Reser).