Location
Charlottesville, VA
General Contractor
Skanska
Scope
Contract: $4,431,223
Project Scope
The UVA Hospital Expansion involved the renovation of 90,000 square feet on multiple levels of the existing hospital to support the new six story inpatient tower construction. This complex project was divided into 27 phases, each requiring precise coordination and execution within a live hospital environment.
Outcomes
Design Electric Inc. played a crucial role in the successful completion of the UVA Hospital Expansion. Leveraging our extensive knowledge and expertise of the hospital’s systems, we navigated the intricate phasing and coordination required for the project. The team’s meticulous planning and execution ensured that each of the 27 phases was completed without causing disruptions to the hospital's operations. Our ability to work around existing circuits and vital spaces without causing shutdowns was instrumental in maintaining the hospital’s functionality throughout the renovation.
Leveraging Technology
Technological advancements were pivotal in enhancing our efficiency on this project. The team used tablets for all electronic drawings, eliminating the need for printed plans and enabling real-time updates. Mobile offices equipped with a big screen TV, Wi-Fi, and a printer facilitated on-site collaboration and planning. We also employed a material requisition tool to ensure timely availability of materials, preventing delays.
Goals
The primary goal of this project was to integrate the new inpatient tower with the existing hospital infrastructure, ensuring uninterrupted patient care during the transition. The renovation aimed to upgrade the facilities to meet contemporary standards while maintaining full operational capacity of critical areas such as operating rooms and patient care units.
Staying on Schedule
Our established processes, including detailed look-ahead scheduling and crew size management, were key to staying on schedule. The project required overlapping phases, where some phases were closing out while others were starting up. This dynamic approach, akin to managing 27 interconnected projects, ensured continuous progress. The superintendent’s ability to maintain team morale and efficient crew sizes in tight working spaces was essential to meeting deadlines and delivering the project under budget and ahead of schedule.
Safety
Because safety is a core value at Design Electric, the entire team underwent Infection Control Risk Assessment training to protect themselves and others in the hospital environment. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic introduced additional safety challenges, which the team navigated with strict adherence to enhanced safety protocols. Despite the complexities and risks, the team completed 78,000 work hours with zero safety incidents, underscoring our commitment to safety and excellence in healthcare environments.