Banner University Medical Center Phoenix Emergency Department Expansion and New Patient Tower
Banner University Medical Center Phoenix Emergency Department Expansion and New Patient Tower | Phoenix, Arizona
An integrated team that fostered a culture of collaboration and creative problem solving drove the successful completion of Banner University Medical Center Phoenix’s (BUMCP) Emergency Department and Patient Tower Expansion project.
Delivered several months early with an estimated $45 million in cost savings, the 700,000-sq.-ft. project features a 13-story, 256-bed patient tower atop a three-story podium that accommodates the emergency department. The podium also contains new observation space on the first floor and surgery expansion and administration on the second. In addition to the new patient spaces, the tower has two shell floors slated for future build-out.
The project had multiple ‘make ready’ phases that included demolition of a vacant medical office building, new parking structure and demolition of an existing parking structure. The work also required intensive relocation of existing hospital utilities and the addition of a generator building.
Partners
Innovative and Cost Effective Solutions
Project team members from Banner Health, DPR, HKS Architects, Inc. and multiple trade partners co-located in a single Big Room space on site, leveraging their unique expertise to quickly resolve challenges and deliver innovative, cost effective solutions. The synergy of this high-performing team, which had just worked together on another Banner Health project, set the stage for a positive outcome from the outset.
“One of the biggest things we talked about was making sure everybody had a voice,” said DPR Sr. Project Manager Charlie Thompson. “We encouraged ideas, even from people who weren’t ‘the experts.’ That led to a culture where people were willing to speak up when they saw opportunities or issues.”
The team came up with an array of innovative solutions that contributed to the project’s success. One prime example: the decision to build a bridge rather than a tunnel to convey critical power and utility feeds to the campus. This option proved to be a major cost saver that allowed the Patient Tower to open a full four months sooner than originally planned.
The
Challenges
As a 100-year old operating medical center, the BUMCP campus had many antiquated systems that needed to be upgraded and relocated in order for DPR to begin construction. One of the most significant examples of this was the existing main power feed to the campus, which ran directly under the footprint of the new expansion. The team couldn’t wait until after the utility company relocated it to start construction and was challenged to come up with a plan to work around this issue.
The sheer scope and complexity of the project presented numerous challenges as well, involving design management, cost analyses and procurement of more than 25 separate GMP packages.
The
Challenges
As a 100-year old operating medical center, the BUMCP campus had many antiquated systems that needed to be upgraded and relocated in order for DPR to begin construction. One of the most significant examples of this was the existing main power feed to the campus, which ran directly under the footprint of the new expansion. The team couldn’t wait until after the utility company relocated it to start construction and was challenged to come up with a plan to work around this issue.
The sheer scope and complexity of the project presented numerous challenges as well, involving design management, cost analyses and procurement of more than 25 separate GMP packages.
The
Solutions
The project team’s high degree of collaboration and close alignment resulted in many out-of-the-box solutions. To manage the complex scope of work, an onsite team carefully planned every step of the project together working in a Big Room on the BUMCP campus.
“The team kept looking for opportunities to improve the project and the overall outcome throughout design and construction,” project manager Charlie Thompson said. “It was a testament to the culture and attitude of the team that we never stopped looking for creative solutions well into construction.”
One important early solution was the decision to work around the campus’ existing main power feed, which ran directly under the footprint of the expansion project. Rather than face delays while waiting for the utility company to permanently relocate the power, DPR took a phased approach, starting construction on another portion of the building and then returning to infill the portion of the building located over the old removed underground power lines. “To allow this to happen, we worked with the local utility to come up with this pretty creative above ground temporary power solution that allowed us to keep building, shaving an additional four months off the schedule,” Thompson said.
Another innovative solution was the decision to build a bridge to convey all the primary critical power and utility feeds to the campus. As the team analyzed the original plan to construct two tunnels for utilities and foot traffic, the idea was raised to build a bridge instead. The team determined it would save $2 million and create multiple phased openings that Banner could work with all while maintaining the overall end date.
The
Solutions
The project team’s high degree of collaboration and close alignment resulted in many out-of-the-box solutions. To manage the complex scope of work, an onsite team carefully planned every step of the project together working in a Big Room on the BUMCP campus.
“The team kept looking for opportunities to improve the project and the overall outcome throughout design and construction,” project manager Charlie Thompson said. “It was a testament to the culture and attitude of the team that we never stopped looking for creative solutions well into construction.”
One important early solution was the decision to work around the campus’ existing main power feed, which ran directly under the footprint of the expansion project. Rather than face delays while waiting for the utility company to permanently relocate the power, DPR took a phased approach, starting construction on another portion of the building and then returning to infill the portion of the building located over the old removed underground power lines. “To allow this to happen, we worked with the local utility to come up with this pretty creative above ground temporary power solution that allowed us to keep building, shaving an additional four months off the schedule,” Thompson said.
Another innovative solution was the decision to build a bridge to convey all the primary critical power and utility feeds to the campus. As the team analyzed the original plan to construct two tunnels for utilities and foot traffic, the idea was raised to build a bridge instead. The team determined it would save $2 million and create multiple phased openings that Banner could work with all while maintaining the overall end date.
The
Results
The BUMCP ED & Tower Expansion project delivered significant bottom line savings back to the owner. Through innovation and team work, the team identified an estimated $45 million in cost savings during the integrated design phase and turned over the project four months early.
The delivery of BUMCP further strengthened DPR’s longstanding relationship with Banner Health.
The
Results
The BUMCP ED & Tower Expansion project delivered significant bottom line savings back to the owner. Through innovation and team work, the team identified an estimated $45 million in cost savings during the integrated design phase and turned over the project four months early.
The delivery of BUMCP further strengthened DPR’s longstanding relationship with Banner Health.
“They are not simply the general contractor. They are truly an ADVOCATE for us. They work hand-in-hand with the team of architects, engineers and subcontractors on the project with none of the traditional finger-pointing and company self-interest the industry is infamous for. Given the complex and technical nature of the projects they build for us, it would be very easy for a general contractor to push responsibility onto others, but DPR consistently takes ownership of the project and delivers on promises.”
Steve Eiss
Project Executive for Banner Health
Project
Awards
AZRE Red Awards 2018
The project received industrywide recognition in 2018, including the AZRE Red Award – Healthcare Project of the Year.
Project
Awards
AZ Big Media
AZRE Red Awards 2018
The project received industrywide recognition in 2018, including the AZRE Red Award – Healthcare Project of the Year.
We think you'll like this, too.
Related
