PEACE HEALTH ST. MEDICAL CENTER JOHN REFORMA 8TH FLOOR
Longview, Wash.
BEST PROJECT
Sent by: JE Dunn Construction Co.
OWNER: PeaceHealth Medical Group
LEADING DESIGN COMPANY: PKA Architects
GENERAL CONTRACTOR: JE Dunn Construction Co.
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING: Chain Consulting Engineers
MEP ENGINEERING: PAE engineers
OWNER’S REPRESENTATIVE: Jacobs Engineering Group Inc.
SUBCONTRACTORS: Merit Contractor of Oregon Inc.; Life Safety Solutions Inc.; Straight Up Carpentry LLC; GEO LLC; Pau Health Medical Group; JH Kelly LLC
To increase the functionality of this medical-surgical unit, the project team led a total demolition and reconstruction of the eighth floor of the hospital. The scope of action included the transformation of 16 double occupancy patient rooms into 20 single rooms and the renovation of interior finishes to achieve a more modern aesthetic.
When the Washington Department of Health needed more space to treat patients at the height of the pandemic, PeaceHealth chose to postpone construction of the eighth floor for more than a year. Rather than reassign the project team to alternative work and risk compromising their developed understanding of the project and installation, JE Dunn completed several interim projects, including the construction of field hospital tents, the creation of negative pressure rooms to isolate the treatment areas from COVID, helping with the safety of preventive maintenance. repairs to critical infrastructure and managing the construction of a new office for the on-site facilities team. These smaller but necessary projects helped the contractor build trust with the client and engage with the hospital community.
Photo by Eckert and Eckert Photography
After the state lifted COVID restrictions, the team completed the work and delivered the new space two months early. The project ended with zero change orders, other than a refund of nearly $700,000, which the owner is using for additional improvements to the hospital.
Regular communication with hospital staff on a weekly basis ensured that healthcare operations continued throughout construction without interruption. The contractor also involved the owner in project meetings, document reviews, and walkthroughs to ensure the appropriate facilities were functional and accessible. This initial coordination also resulted in less impact on patients during preventive maintenance.
Photo by Eckert and Eckert Photography
JE Dunn participated in a mock-up workshop with the PeaceHealth facilities team, working through more than a dozen scenarios with various user groups that addressed issues ranging from moving a patient to the toilet to helping someone with a broken hip move within the space and transferring patients between beds. The models were located in an on-site garage where the contractor also validated the design with nurses and doctors early on to maximize opportunities for prefabrication. These efforts resulted in time and cost savings, including a complete reconfiguration of the head wall equipment and an increase in room width of 4-6 inches, achieved by slightly reducing the bathrooms. All of these changes were identified and modified in the design before construction began.
Photo by Eckert and Eckert Photography
The eighth floor houses the hospital’s orthopedic joint and fracture replacement program. The renovations ensured easier access to preoperative orthopedic exercise classes and group physical therapy, allowing patients to receive all care in one center.
