The three-story patient tower and the 15,513-sq-ft surgery addition to West Valley Hospital were constructed concurrently without disrupting hospital operations. Both components were completed in 12 months despite hurdles that included the steel connections to the existing building, footing expansions in occupied spaces and the carefully phased installation of mechanical and plumbing systems above the existing labor and delivery unit. During a shutdown of the existing central utility plant to convert it from a primary/secondary system to a variable flow configuration, crews prefabricated the piping to reduce the use of temporary chillers to just five weeks.

Best Projects judges credited DPR Construction for their extensive use of technology, including iPad tracking and model coordination of key components such as exterior skin, mock-up rooms and fabrication of mechanical systems. The project's BIM model was linked to GPS to compare the virtual model to completed work in real time. A rolling completion list linked to PlanGrid software tracked 700 quality control items and helped the team achieve zero defects upon the project's on-time completion. The addition was seamlessly integrated into the hospital's traditional desert Southwest look. Corridors utilize a triangular design that allows the central nursing station hub to maintain sight lines throughout the space.

West Valley Hospital Patient Tower and Surgery Expansion

Goodyear, Ariz.

Key Players

General Contractor DPR Construction, Phoenix

Owner/Developer Tenet Health, Goodyear

Lead Design Firm Earl Swensson Associates Inc., Nashville

Civil Engineer Littlejohn Engineering, Phoenix

Mechanical Engineer Enfinity Engineering, Brentwood, Tenn.

Electrical Engineer Enterprise Electric LLC, Nashville

Subcontractors TD Industries, Tempe, Ariz.; Saguaro Steel, Phoenix; Accel Fire Protection, Phoenix; Walters and Wolf, Gilbert, Ariz.