The $62.8-million Baylor T. Boone Pickens Cancer Hospital project transformed two 40-year-old buildings into a 200,000-sq-ft, 96-bed inpatient cancer hospital. MEDCO Construction completed the project in three phases over 35 months in the center of an operational 900-bed hospital campus.

Phase 1 included rebuilding a seven-story stair tower that connected the two buildings. During and after the demolition, it was necessary to maintain pedestrian and service connections through the work area, so the design team worked with the construction team to determine a structure that could remain to allow pedestrian and service connectivity while the new stair was built around it.

Construction of a new pedestrian bridge that connected Baylor's new Outpatient Cancer Center to what would be the Inpatient Cancer Hospital required the design and construction teams to collaborate again.

This time, the team implemented construction techniques utilizing fiber-reinforced polymer designs in the garage and unique steel trusses over the street to keep both the street and garage fully operational throughout the project.

The final phase included complete demolition of the building interior, including all building systems, leaving only the structural frame and exterior skin. The building's exterior was reconditioned as well.

Key Players

Owner Baylor Health Care System, Dallas

General Contractor MEDCO Construction LLC, Dallas

Lead Design Perkins+Will, Dallas

Structural/Civil Raymond L. Goodson Jr. Inc., Dallas

MEP SW Associates Consulting Engineers Inc., Dallas

Mechanical Subcontractor Polk Mechanical Co., Grand Prairie, Texas

Electrical Subcontractor Prism Electric, Garland, Texas