Coordination
On every health-care renovation, a key facet of AP Healthcare’s preconstruction methodology is a comprehensive building investigation process that identifies potential complications within the scope of work before they require non-budgeted expenditures to correct.
“Design teams generally start their work with a set of as-built drawings that are rarely perfect,” notes AP Healthcare Project Manager Matt Curtis. Even seemingly minor discrepancies between what is on as-built drawings and the actual in-place conditions can have a substantial impact on construction. Cost projections, constructability and construction sequencing related to the ties-ins and shut-downs required to seamlessly transition spaces from one purpose to another are all improved by validating the as-built documentation.
“We believe it is in everyone’s best interest to take the as-built documentation a significant step further by actually getting into the unseen spaces above ceilings and behind walls as much as possible,” Curtis continues. “We generally schedule these inspections during the building’s off-hours and work closely with each affected department to understand their schedules, operations and equipment requirements so we have a clearer picture of what could be affected by construction than just what is encompassed in our assigned scope of work.”
One key difference between the design team’s obligations and the contractor’s responsibilities is the fact that many of the potential construction hurdles that may be encountered on a job actually lie beyond the limits of the design documentation. While an architect’s work is largely concerned with resolving a scope of work within the parameters of cost and program, the contractor is challenged to consider the project’s interface with adjacent areas, frequently including the floors above and below the construction zone.
The need to coordinate with affected departments was paramount on AP Healthcare’s expansion of the Emergency Department at the Estes Park Medical Center, Estes Park, Colo. The scope of work entailed remodeling examination rooms, trauma rooms and adding 4,600 square feet directly adjacent to the existing, actively used Emergency Department. With construction activities, including demolition, taking place less than 1 foot from staff and patient areas, working with the Emergency Department to understand its schedule and preplan construction activities was imperative.