Power When It Is Needed Most

Caterpillar 3516B Engine Generators ensure back-up power for all of the hospital’s critical equipment and life safety systems, enabling full operation of the region’s only Level 1 trauma center during emergencies.

Active Campus Safety

VPP safety measures included minute-by-minute coordination with transport teams and FOD (foreign object debris) maintenance to ensure air-traffic safety.

Equipment Installation

Careful coordination between project stakeholders, project management staff, and trade partners was essential to the successful installation of the 15+ ton generators.

Heating and Cooling Infrastructure

The Central Plant expansion included the installation of three new water-cooled chillers, five cooling towers, pumps, and controls.

Automated Processes For a Consistent & Reliable Power Source

Completed in Phase 2 of the Central Plant expansion, this fuel piping manifold has motorized ball valves and piping that connects the fuel fill station to the 45,000-gallon diesel fuel tanks for use by the emergency generators.

Practical Long-Term Maintenance Solutions

Equalizer piping next to the cooling towers features aluminum-jacketed insulation with a diamond-plate walk surface for maintenance access.

Collaborative Design Solutions

Diligent project team collaboration provided multiple solutions to space constraints, including placement of the cooling towers on the second floor.

Private Conference Room and Lobby

Facility improvements include a central plant-specific lobby and conference space, separate from day-to-day hospital operations spaces.

MEDICAL CENTER CENTRAL PLANT EXPANSION

Location

Arizona

Markets

Healthcare | Tenant Improvements & Remodels | Utility / Central Plant

This Design + Build project upgraded aging equipment and utility supplies to accommodate the medical center’s operational requirements while reducing operating costs with more efficient equipment. Additional objectives included providing redundancy for critical mechanical and electrical systems, increased space for the Central Plant operations team, and increased capacity of the facility’s medical gas systems.

Innovations to the project’s design and construction included the second-floor location of the cooling towers in the facility to address space constraints. Large-scale roof penetrations were achieved by increasing the structural support capacity and developing flashing solutions.

A Multi-Phase Remodel & Expansion

Phase 1: Scope of work included upgrades to the med gas storage and disbursement room and systems, along with the installation of new vacuum pumps and compressors.
Phase 2: Scope of work included the construction of new 2-story 4000SF addition for expansion of critical power infrastructure, which included 3 emergency generators and additional electrical equipment, a new 45,000-gallon storage capacity upgrade for emergency diesel fuel, new utility services, and required critical utility relocation. Phase 2 also included TI for updated central monitoring of essential systems, new operations control center, conference room, offices, new yard, and masonry wall.
Phase 3: Scope of work included a 2-story 5,000SF addition with 3 new chillers, 5 cooling towers, pumps, and controls to expand critical heating and cooling infrastructure.

Site safety planning and coordination with multiple stakeholders and user groups were imperative. Loven Contracting promptly notified all stakeholders of system changes and back-up utilization for all essential services.

Photos: Emilio Ferrara and Larry Hendricks