Collaboration and Communication Lead to Success

Alton Memorial Hospital Expansion
By Carrie Bui

Collaboration and open communication among project team members is the key to the success of any construction management project. Therefore, when BJC HealthCare and Alton Memorial Hospital in Alton, Ill. needed a new patient tower built, they turned to S. M. Wilson to manage the project’s construction. Due to S. M. Wilson’s long-standing relationship with BJC HealthCare and multiple projects together, Alton Memorial knew they could count on S. M. Wilson to manage the construction team and produce a quality project within the scheduled timeline and estimated budget. Nevertheless, the success of the new patient tower relied on the successful collaboration of the entire project team consisting of the architect Pratt Design Studio, MEP engineer KJWW Engineering Consultants, electrical contractor Guarantee Electrical and mechanical contractor Murphy Company.

Pratt Design Studio designed the new tower with patient needs in mind, featuring 76 private patient rooms, family areas, a decentralized nursing concept and a direct connection to existing hospital clinical areas. Construction will also include a lobby and registration area, an inpatient pharmacy, inpatient therapy areas and inpatient lab services. Alton Memorial Hospital’s current bed tower had constrained space and had reached functional obsolescence. The new bed tower will allow for an increased patient experience, staff efficiency and patient flow through the hospital during a patient’s stay. However, to insure that Pratt’s design was brought to full fruition, the team began planning for the construction of the 78,000-square-foot facility months before the project broke ground in March 2008.

For this project, the electrical and mechanical contractors were brought into the project at the design development phase. By doing this, the team increased the efficiency of the project. Senior Project Manager for S. M. Wilson, Brett Goodman, noted, “Their input to the team during this phase of the project was invaluable. This process increases the efficiency of the project by helping make the value judgments early in the design so as not to impact the schedule. Everybody on the project is an integral part of the building program. If one part breaks down, it can bring the whole process to a grinding halt. The best way we have found to create a successful partnership is to let the individual members know they are a valuable member of the team and treat them as such.” Through early involvement of the electrical and mechanical subcontractors the owner was given the opportunity to understand the project from every perspective—from design to mechanics. “The owner hears all the recommendations from the contractors and participates in the discussions and the pros and cons from the engineer and the contractor to make an educated decision on each topic,” said Mark Bengard, P.E. and Senior Vice President with Murphy Company.

Through the extensive pre-construction process and the involvement of the owner, architect, MEP engineer, construction manager and subcontractors, everybody was able to contribute their knowledge and expertise, leading to solutions that were well-thought out and designed to benefit the overall project. “A collaborative relationship between all parties gave every team member access to all information pertaining to the building,” said Robert Meyer, Project Manager for Pratt Design Studio. “This affects the outcome because it allows everyone to immediately work on forming solutions when presented with a challenge. The owner benefits by not only being able to make well-informed decisions but by ultimately getting a more cost-effective building.”

This positive partnership established before a shovel was ever placed in the ground became vital when challenges arose during construction. One such challenge that was overcome through teamwork was when Guarantee needed to bring in new electrical distribution equipment. There was no access to the lower level from the building exterior for the size of the new unit substations. Careful pre-planning with S. M. Wilson and coordination with Murphy Company enabled Guarantee to complete the task. They coordinated with Murphy’s rooftop equipment deliveries to use a 300-ton crane and lowered the substations and other equipment through the roof opening of the elevator shaft, explained Kevin Banovic, Senior Project Manager for Guarantee Electrical.

Meyer observed, “This was a team of highly talented and energetic people who were committed to the process.” He added, “Not only were regular meetings scheduled, but discussion also continued informally throughout the project. This open forum allowed all team members to work more closely and challenge each other to do their work.”

“Construction on the bed tower, the Duncan Wing, has proceeded very smoothly,” said Stephanie Travis, Facility and Environment Manager at Alton Memorial Hospital. “In fact, S. M. Wilson just surpassed our expectations and was able to complete the circle drive and allow the main entrance to the existing hospital to open back up. This work was originally scheduled to be complete in November, with the rest of the project, but they managed to complete the work early on June 1st.”

Set for completion in January 2010, Alton Memorial Hospital’s new patient tower will continue to meet the hospital’s mission to provide patient-focused, disciplined and knowledge-driven care to the community, thanks to the team efforts of S. M. Wilson, Pratt Design Studio, KJWW Engineering Consultants, Guarantee Electrical and Murphy Company.