Holt Construction, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers complete temporary hospital in two weeks

A new temporary medical facility, comprising two fully-equipped tents, was completed in just two weeks at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center (BNBMC) in Paramus, N.J. The project was built by Holt Construction, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and FEMA.

The hospital is a first of its kind for Army Corps temporary facility construction standards and will serve as a treatment facility for acute, non-COVID related patients due to the influx of COVID-positive patients in the main building. Located in a large parking lot adjacent to BNBMC's main building, the temporary hospital will serve an additional 100 patients in total.

BNBMC temporary hospital hallway and patient bays

Each tent includes 50 patient beds as well as an admissions bay, nurse stations, six bathrooms with showers, hospital staff nourishment and support areas, a nurse call system in each patient room, medical gas storage, medicine storage, and soiled holding. Life safety provisions, such as fire alarm, sprinkler, fire extinguishers, and other life-safety systems, were also installed. Plumbing and sprinkler were run from the main building to the lot and new incoming primary power with a stepdown transformer was provided to power the two tents.

The tents were constructed by over 80 carpenters, 20 electricians, and 20 plumbers working in three shifts around the clock. Social distancing was enforced at all times and all personnel were equipped with N95 face masks, face shields, gloves, and goggles. Additionally, sanitation stations were set up for use upon entering and exiting the site.

BNBMC temporary hospital interior

BNBMC temporary hospital exterior power

BNBMC Temporary Hospital covered entrance

For most of human history, design has mostly considered “typical users” who are fully able-bodied without clinical or emotional disabilities. The problem with this approach is that it offers a limited perspective on how space can positively or negatively influence someone based on their physical, mental, and sensory abilities.

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