Imagine a construction site where surgical procedures take place. The two-story vertical expansion of this hospital posed a unique challenge in that vibrations had to be kept to a minimum because operations and patient care continued during construction.
MetroHealth is an integrated health system with the area’s only Level I Adult Trauma and Burn Center, a skilled nursing facility and multiple satellite locations throughout the area. The Emergency Department is one of the busiest in the country, handling more than 100,000 patients every year.
MetroHealth is in the process of a transformation of its 52-acre main campus on West 25th Street. The project could take between eight and 12 years, and could cost up to $1.2 billion. The Critical Care Pavilion is the first step of this ambitious overall project.
The 2-story vertical expansion includes 75,000 SF of new construction above the existing three story building. The Critical Care addition adds 85 beds for intensive care, critical care, or surgery step down, including a Special Disease Care Unit for handling highly infectious diseases.
One of the primary challenges for design and construction was the Level 1 Trauma Emergency Department and the Surgery floor below needed to remain operational during construction. Another challenge was vertically extending four existing elevators, while keeping at least two elevators operational at all times. Compounding these issues was an aggressive design and construction schedule of only 17 months.
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