Sutter Health’s Samaritan Court Ambulatory Care and Surgery Center (Samaritan Court), a three-story, 69,000 sf medical office building, was recently completed three months early and $3 million under budget, according to general contractor Skanska.
The project “marks the first time a general contractor has collaborated seamlessly with all trade partners (mechanical, electrical, plumbing, framing, and drywall) on layout strategy and responsibilities simultaneously,” Skanska says.
The accomplishment was aided by Dusty Robotics, a robot tool that its manufacturer says, “allows project teams to dramatically reduce schedule time and rework costs through accurate, full-scale floor layout.” Skanska worked with trade partners specializing in mechanical, electrical, plumbing, framing and drywall, to develop a combined layout plan in a “first-of-its-kind collaboration and implementation of Dusty Robotics.”
The project team also used a virtual punch list and Takt Planning, starting punch list activities during the design and preconstruction phases rather than in the closeout phase. The team focused on where improvements could be made to cut rework in half in comparison to projects of similar size and complexity.
The virtual punch list allowed each stakeholder to review final conditions—furniture, casework and equipment placement, ADA clearances, device and outlet alignment, utility connections, and item placements that would require unique finish details—in the building model. This allowed the team to achieve its goal of cutting rework by 50% on the project.
The design team strove for a warm, timeless, easy-to-maintain, and inviting space by incorporating warm woods, recessed modern lighting, natural stone, and visually stimulating wayfinding graphics. Wayfinding throughout the building used imagery of local flora and fauna elemental themes assigned to each floor, such as water, pebbles, and trees. Natural element-themed graphics were assigned to each medical practice to create an intuitive orientation in the building.
Located near the border of San Jose and Los Gatos, Calif., the building aims for patient-centered care. Design highlights include:
- Single entry/exit for patients, promoting clear wayfinding
- Centralized reception areas for upper floors at patient entry points
- Centralized waiting spaces on upper floors to allow a variety of clinical services to share seating and maximize efficiency for staff movement
- Localized departments to achieve the greatest operational efficiency for the best patient care with ease of access to core modalities including Diagnostic Imaging and Laboratory Services
- Departmental adjacencies to share point-of-care rooms and support spaces between clinic modules and services
- Locating of the surgery center on the first floor for ease of patient access and discharge
- Orientation of patient care and recovery rooms toward pleasant views of the natural environment to encourage patient recovery
On the project team:
Owner and/or developer: Sutter Health
Design architect: Boulder Associates
Architect of record: Boulder Associates
MEP engineer: Southland Industries (mechanical, plumbing); Prime Electric (electric);
Structural engineer: Miyamoto
General contractor/construction manager: Skanska
Related Stories
| Feb 10, 2012
Mortenson Construction research identifies healthcare industry and facility design trends
The 2012 Mortenson Construction Healthcare Industry Study includes insights and perspectives regarding government program concerns, the importance of lean operations, flexible facility design, project delivery trends, improving patient experience, and evidence-based design.
| Jan 31, 2012
Fusion Facilities: 8 reasons to consolidate multiple functions under one roof
‘Fusing’ multiple functions into a single building can make it greater than the sum of its parts. The first in a series on the design and construction of university facilities.
| Jan 31, 2012
Suffolk Construction to manage Lawrence & Memorial Hospital Cancer Center project in Waterford, Conn.
Leading construction management firm overseeing one of first healthcare projects in the country to utilize innovative IPD process.
| Jan 16, 2012
Suffolk completes construction on progressive operating suite
5,700 square-foot operating suite to be test bed for next generation of imaged-guided operating techniques.
| Jan 4, 2012
HDR to design North America’s first fully digital hospital
Humber River is the first hospital in North America to fully integrate and automate all of its processes; everything is done digitally.
| Jan 3, 2012
VDK Architects merges with Harley Ellis Devereaux
Harley Ellis Devereaux will relocate the employees in its current Berkeley, Calif., office to the new Oakland office location effective January 3, 2012.
| Jan 3, 2012
New Chicago hospital prepared for pandemic, CBR terror threat
At a cost of $654 million, the 14-story, 830,000-sf medical center, designed by a Perkins+Will team led by design principal Ralph Johnson, FAIA, LEED AP, is distinguished in its ability to handle disasters.
| Jan 3, 2012
BIM: not just for new buildings
Ohio State University Medical Center is converting 55 Medical Center buildings from AutoCAD to BIM to improve quality and speed of decision making related to facility use, renovations, maintenance, and more.
| Dec 12, 2011
Skanska to expand and renovate hospital in Georgia for $103 Million
The expansion includes a four-story, 17,500 square meters clinical services building and a five-story, 15,700 square meters, medical office building. Skanska will also renovate the main hospital.
| Dec 1, 2011
Nauset Construction breaks ground on Massachusetts health care center
The $20 million project is scheduled to be completed by December 2012.
