Sutter Health’s new surgical care center finishes three months early, $3 million under budget

Sutter Health’s Samaritan Court Ambulatory Care and Surgery Center (Samaritan Court), a three-story, 69,000 sf medical office building, was recently completed three months early and $3 million under budget, according to general contractor Skanska. 

The project “marks the first time a general contractor has collaborated seamlessly with all trade partners (mechanical, electrical, plumbing, framing, and drywall) on layout strategy and responsibilities simultaneously,” Skanska says.

The accomplishment was aided by Dusty Robotics, a robot tool that its manufacturer says, “allows project teams to dramatically reduce schedule time and rework costs through accurate, full-scale floor layout.” Skanska worked with trade partners specializing in mechanical, electrical, plumbing, framing and drywall, to develop a combined layout plan in a “first-of-its-kind collaboration and implementation of Dusty Robotics.”

The project team also used a virtual punch list and Takt Planning, starting punch list activities during the design and preconstruction phases rather than in the closeout phase. The team focused on where improvements could be made to cut rework in half in comparison to projects of similar size and complexity. 

The virtual punch list allowed each stakeholder to review final conditions—furniture, casework and equipment placement, ADA clearances, device and outlet alignment, utility connections, and item placements that would require unique finish details—in the building model. This allowed the team to achieve its goal of cutting rework by 50% on the project.  

The design team strove for a warm, timeless, easy-to-maintain, and inviting space by incorporating warm woods, recessed modern lighting, natural stone, and visually stimulating wayfinding graphics. Wayfinding throughout the building used imagery of local flora and fauna elemental themes assigned to each floor, such as water, pebbles, and trees. Natural element-themed graphics were assigned to each medical practice to create an intuitive orientation in the building.    

Located near the border of San Jose and Los Gatos, Calif., the building aims for patient-centered care. Design highlights include:

• Single entry/exit for patients, promoting clear wayfinding 
• Centralized reception areas for upper floors at patient entry points 
• Centralized waiting spaces on upper floors to allow a variety of clinical services to share seating and maximize efficiency for staff movement
• Localized departments to achieve the greatest operational efficiency for the best patient care with ease of access to core modalities including Diagnostic Imaging and Laboratory Services 
• Departmental adjacencies to share point-of-care rooms and support spaces between clinic modules and services
• Locating of the surgery center on the first floor for ease of patient access and discharge 
• Orientation of patient care and recovery rooms toward pleasant views of the natural environment to encourage patient recovery

On the project team:  
Owner and/or developer: Sutter Health 
Design architect: Boulder Associates 
Architect of record: Boulder Associates 
MEP engineer: Southland Industries (mechanical, plumbing); Prime Electric (electric);  
Structural engineer: Miyamoto 
General contractor/construction manager: Skanska