The 58,000-square-foot, 3-level addition to the existing hospital houses an open-heart surgery operating room, a cardiac-catheterization lab with complete diagnostic and interventional capabilities, an 18-bed cardiac-care unit, and 25 private rooms for patients requiring less-acute care.
The new open-heart surgery room connects the existing hospital’s surgical services and the new addition’s specialized cardiac-care services. The new wing is also close to the hospital’s ambulatory patient-care entrance.
Special Design Feature
The cardiovascular intensive-care unit’s design employs a “universal room” patient-care delivery system not typically associated with cardiac care. This design allows patients to remain in the same room throughout their hospital stay while care specialists bring appropriate services to their bedside, eliminating patient transfers. In addition, each room is equipped with technology that provides around-the-clock centralized video/audio monitoring by physicians and nurses.
Design/Construction Challenge
Advocate Health Care wanted a 20-month start-to-finish project, so the construction team crafted a fast-track delivery plan. This approach sped the schedule by starting construction on the building’s foundation while design of the superstructure was still in progress. Multiple design-bid packages, which included an early site/foundation/steel package, moved the project along and allowed the team to open the building within 16 months.
