Gilbane and HGA Complete Alternative Care Facility for COVID-19 Patients in 10 Days
Milwaukee, WI – May 21, 2020 – Gilbane Building Company, a leader in construction and facility management, and HGA, a national multidisciplinary design firm, combined their expertise to meet the challenge posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Contracted by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Gilbane led the effort, allowing Milwaukee County to respond to the surge in demand at local Milwaukee hospitals. With other local subcontractors, Gilbane and HGA worked together to plan, design, procure and build an alternative care facility (ACF) at Wisconsin’s State Fair Park Exposition Center.
Through integrated project delivery — an approach that integrates people, systems, business structures and practices into a streamlined process — the facility transformation was completed in just 10 days, on time and on budget.
Led by Gilbane, all stakeholders gathered daily in a coordinated setting for integrated project team communications. Nearly all the companies involved had worked together; the established level of trust enabled them to move quickly. To ensure onsite safety, all workers wore Personal Protective Equipment and went through daily medical screening before the start of each 12-hour shift.
The ACF can currently house 530 non-acute COVID-19 patients. Each 10-foot by 10-foot patient room has three, eight-foot-high hard walls, a curtain for the fourth wall and is open to the ceiling to utilize existing Exposition Center lighting.
Organized within three of the Center’s existing halls, the scalable design involved the installation of piped and bottled oxygen designated for specific areas, modifications to electrical power (with 100% backup using emergency generators), a plumbing system, and a wireless nurse call system.
HGA enhanced the USACE early design concept into a scalable plan that allowed the ACF team to make decisions based on best value and current COVID-19 virus projections. HGA leveraged their operational planning expertise to create a plan that emphasized operational efficiency while placing a premium on the patient and staff experience with the ultimate expectation of delivering the best possible patient outcomes in this temporary care facility. Considerations included: how to best use existing access points in the building for separate patient and staff entrances; the flow of materials within the Exposition Center; and patient room configurations (in-line oxygen vs. bottled oxygen based on patient acuity level). The team’s engineering experts assisted in planning patient room toilets, air exchange systems, bulk oxygen systems, and generator capabilities.
“We have executed this unprecedented 10-day design and construction mission as one integrated team that we are extremely proud to be part of,” said Adam Jelen, senior vice president and project director of Gilbane.
“We’re incredibly proud to be part of this effort to help the people of Wisconsin through this unprecedented time,” said Paul Widlarz, Principal and Healthcare Practice Leader at HGA. “The fact that we built a working hospital for COVID-19 patients in just 10 days is a testament to the excellence, dedication and drive of everyone involved with this project.”
About Gilbane Building Company
Gilbane is a global integrated construction and facility management services firm with strong roots in Southeast Wisconsin over the past 40+ years. Gilbane’s downtown Milwaukee office has been steadily growing in recent years. Recognized as the #1 Milwaukee-area contractor by Milwaukee Business Journal (2019), Gilbane has assembled an impressive portfolio of work, while staying true to our commitment of community partnerships, building capacity and safety excellence. Our extensive experience translates into a builder you can trust with valuable lessons learned and best practices on a variety building types including corporate, high-rise developments, industrial, food and beverage, education, hospitality and municipal, to name a few. Visit www.gilbaneco.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.
About HGA
HGA is a national multi-disciplinary design firm rooted in architecture and engineering. Founded in 1953, we believe that enduring, impactful design results from deep insight into the people and passions that animate each unique environment. Our 11 offices from coast to coast craft specialized teams to serve clients in education, arts, healthcare, corporate, government, community, and energy industries. HGA.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.