Williamson Health, a regional healthcare system based in Franklin, Tenn., with 30-plus locations nationwide, has built a reputation for women’s healthcare. This year alone, The Women’s Choice Award for Best Hospitals recognized Williamson Health for its women’s services, comprehensive breast care, mammograms, and obstetrics.
So it is, perhaps, fitting that a woman-led team from the general contractor JE Dunn Construction has been supervising a $200 million, 225,000-sf expansion and renovation of the system’s flagship Williamson Medical Center near Nashville. The project includes 31,932 sf of improvements, a 15-room Emergency Department addition, a six-story addition for patient rooms, and another six stories that are earmarked for future expansion. (The Franklin hospital is in one of the faster-growing counties in the U.S.)
Earlier this month, the hospital officially opened its new state-of-the-art postpartum wing, with 11 beds, and a newborn nursery. The hospital’s OB and NICU are being updated with renovated and expanded labor, delivery, and recovery rooms. The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is being moved to its own secure wing.
This design-build project, which is scheduled for completion next year, is designed by ESa. Nashville Machine Service is its mechanical engineer, and Enterprise Solutions its electrical engineer. Once this project is finished, the hospital plans to renovate its existing buildings.
Empathetic communications
Williamson Medical Center is the first start-to-finish construction management project for Kennedy May, a superintendent who has been with JE Dunn for more than six years. On her team is senior project engineer Emily McCaw, a three-year JE Dunn veteran.
May tells BD+C that having a female management team running the build has been beneficial for communicating with the hospital staff, “who were a delight to work with.” The hospital has stayed open during the project, so May has had to coordinate shutdowns for roads, mechanical installations, and night work to install water tie-ins.
JE Dunn’s Healthcare Group is based in Nashville, and has had a relationship with the healthcare system spanning several years. May—whose grandfather was a healthcare superintendent for Hoar Construction—is based in Colorado, where her healthcare assignments have included several renovations for Swedish Medical Center in Englewood.
Related Stories
Market Data | Dec 5, 2017
Top health systems engaged in $21 billion of U.S. construction projects
Largest active projects are by Sutter Health, New York Presbyterian, and Scripps Health.
Healthcare Facilities | Nov 30, 2017
Scope it out
How to design and build what’s needed to meet organizational goals and strategies.
University Buildings | Nov 28, 2017
FXFOWLE and CO Architects collaborate on Columbia University School of Nursing building
The building has a ‘collaboration ribbon’ that runs throughout the building.
Sponsored | Windows and Doors | Nov 21, 2017
Daylighting promotes healing and wellness at the Florida Hospital for Women at Orlando Campus
Growing research demonstrates that patients recover faster and better from illness or surgery in settings that offer abundant daylight and views to the outdoors.
Healthcare Facilities | Nov 6, 2017
Design isn’t enough to foster collaboration in healthcare and research spaces
A new Perkins Eastman white paper finds limited employee interaction at NYU Winthrop Hospital, a year after it opened.
Healthcare Facilities | Oct 25, 2017
Creating child-friendly healthcare spaces: Five goals for success
Children often accompany parents or grandparents in medical settings; what can we do to address their unique needs?
Greenbuild Report | Oct 23, 2017
NZE and carbon neutral
An Army hospital in the Mojave Desert sets a new bar for sustainable design.
Designers | Oct 10, 2017
Merging artwork and building design
With many hospital projects, art can be a construction-phase afterthought.
Healthcare Facilities | Oct 5, 2017
Architectural best practices for behavioral health: A case study at VCBR
Confined treatment centers for civilly-committed individuals.
Healthcare Facilities | Sep 29, 2017
Having a vision
The ability to clearly communicate specific priorities to your team is among the most important tasks the owner’s leadership team will perform.