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In addition to building the original Children’s National Medical Center (CNMC) in northwest Washington, D.C. during the 1970s, The Clark Construction Group, Inc. has been performing ongoing work at the facility for the past 15 years. The facility is currently licensed at 279 inpatient beds, 40 of which are dedicated to the neonatal nursery, and utilizes the most state-of-the-art equipment available. Ranked as one of the best children’s hospitals in the nation, CNMC serves as the regional referral center for pediatric emergency trauma cases, as well as cancer, burn, neonatal and critical care.
Projects at the hospital are unique in that Clark must work in, and around, a fully operational facility. Special detail must be taken in the planning, construction and coordination of all projects. In collaboration with Karlsberger Architecture of Columbus, Ohio, Clark is working on the following projects at the Children’s National Medical Center:
Phase One of the East Wing Expansion: The East Wing Expansion will be the largest project built at the facility in the last 10 years. Phase One features a $3.14 million steel package that includes temporary protection, selective demolition and erection of structural steel and steel deck. The temporary protection and demolition for the East Wing Expansion is quite extensive and involves protecting all entrances and exits from debris that may fall from the roof. Demolition activities include the removal of a glass curtain wall from the adjacent third and fourth levels in preparation to receive new steel. A wood wall that replaces the curtain wall will serve as an outer skin of the building. The Clark team faces a challenge in building this temporary wall because the rooms bordering it include occupied patient rooms and intensive care units.
Perioperative Addition: Over 13,000 square feet of space is being added to the second floor of the northeast wing of the hospital and features an architecturally-enhanced pre-op and post opfacility that includes 24 recovery rooms, five induction rooms, five holding rooms, parent waiting area and elaborate nurse station. The challenge for constructing this $5 million project has been working in an area adjacent to surgery and above the emergency operations below.
Phase Two of Dietary Renovation: Clark is beginning work on phase two of the dietary renovation after successfully completing phase one on schedule and under budget in a two-month period in the summer of 2003. The new cafeteria replaces an outdated facility and serves a variety of fresh meals.
Electrical Systems Upgrade: The Electrical Systems Upgrade is a sequential, three-year, three phase project that will bring the outdated systems up to the level needed for a modern hospital. Work involves replacing the existing switchgear with two different spot network systems and adding a new generator. Phase One, with a contract value of $3.1 million, will be completed in Spring 2005.
MRI Expansion: Clark will complete phase three of this job in May 2004. The MRI, telemedicine rooms and several waiting areas were renovated during previous phases. During this last phase, patient holding areas and offices are being renovated. The total cost of the project is $3.68 million.
“We are excited to see the progress of the construction of the new East Wing Expansion,” said Jody M. Burdell, Children’s National Medical Center’s Chief Operating Officer. “Our updated facilities will ensure that Children’s continues to provide the best medical care possible.”
SK&A of Rockville, Md. is the structural engineer and HF Lenz of Johnstown, Pa. is the MEP engineer on all of the projects.
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