McCarthy Building Cos Inc. completed construction on the new $166-million Mercy Medical Center replacement hospital in Merced.

A Catholic Healthcare West (CHW) affiliate, the Mercy Medical Center consolidates two existing campuses into one facility that includes an eight-level, 185-bed, 266,000-sq-ft general acute tower, as well as a 19,000-sq-ft central plant.

The Mercy Medical Center includes the following departments: Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Surgery Center, Operation Recovery, Labor and Delivery, Neonatal ICU, Newborn Nursery, Emergency Room and Ambulatory Care, as well as a pharmacy, cafeteria and helipad.

The facility also offers state-of-the-art data and telecommunications systems; environmentally sensitive power plant equipment; advanced mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems; an emergency services response system featuring high-tech radio communications technology that covers multiple counties; a security system controlled by RS2 technologies; and external and internal design elements to promote healing.

In addition to CHW, the primary team members, consisting of McCarthy, RBB Architects, Inc. and the owner's construction manager Harris & Associates, worked with the owner to implement a "design-assist" delivery process to help create a soothing hospital environment engineered for today's innovative technology standards.

This multi-faceted approach allowed the team to meet well before construction began to collaborate on design, owner/user group and Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD) issues to provide a complete coordinated design that met the OSHPD criteria, as well as owner expectation.

The project was completed within schedule and under budget, and included minimal OSHPD deferred approvals and change orders, as well as reduced MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) coordination duration.

"The collaborative approach of all key project participants was built on trust, respect and open communication, which made this project an unprecedented success," says Chris Dugas, area manager for design and construction, CHW. "Project issues were aired openly and resolved with continual focus on the ultimate common goals."

"We were thrilled to be an integral part in fulfilling CHW's and Mercy Medical Center's vision to expand its healthcare in the Merced area through this new state-of-the-art facility," says McCarthy's Project Director Bryan Anderson. "The design-assist approach helped us mitigate any challenges up front while successfully meeting the project's goals of integrating high-technological capabilities and environmentally friendly materials and processes — ultimately resulting in a project that was delivered within schedule and with substantial cost savings to CHW."

In addition to the advanced technological capabilities, environmentally conscious construction process and materials were also a focus of Mercy Medical Center's development plan.

The project team participated in the Savings by Design program and the Merced Irrigation District recently presented the Center with a $120,000 check for participation.

Environmental elements include high efficiency chillers and boilers; premium efficiency motors for the cooling tower, hot water pumps, medical air and vacuum systems; and energy efficient fluorescent lighting with room occupancy sensors. McCarthy recycled 100% of concrete waste, as well as more than 85% of all other construction materials.