Best Health Care: Hospital Gets Upgrade After Flood

New York University Langone Medical Center

The New York University Langone Medical Center Tisch Hospital infrastructure upgrade was implemented after the mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, located in the cellar and on the ground floor of the building, were largely destroyed by flooding in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. As part of a flood mitigation program implemented by the entire NYU campus, New York University’s Langone Medical Center elevated the Tisch Hospital’s critical infrastructure systems from the cellar level to the first floor. The project restored power, heating, cooling and water to the building by constructing new mechanical, electrical and plumbing rooms in a former cafeteria on the first floor of the 18-story medical center.

The infrastructure upgrade included demolition of partitions and ceilings, new partitions and finishes, installation of equipment, extensive piping and electrical distribution, fire protection and connections to existing risers. The new electrical and mechanical equipment rooms are outfitted with the substation for normal power, automatic transfer switches for emergency power, domestic hot and cold water pumping equipment, hot water pumps, secondary chilled water pumps and compressors for kitchen walk-in refrigerators. The new systems were installed with backups to be utilized in the event of any future emergencies.

The work done during the infrastructure upgrade was carefully planned in order for the hospital to remain in use while work was taking place. The hospital worked closely with the project’s contractor, Lend Lease, to ensure that all necessary precautions were taken to maintain patient safety.