Complicating the build-out was Cullen Pavilion’s historic nature and its multiple previous renovations. Unrecorded structural columns and outdated piping systems, which weren’t included on century-old drawings, required design modifications. To manage these challenges and ensure open dialogue for problem-solving, weekly design-construction coordination calls began early in the process.

Photo by Slate and Stone Photography

When it came to installing two state-of-the-art MRIs into the basement of Hermann Pavilion—one weighing 9,000 lb and the other 14,000 lb—the team faced multiple logistical challenges. The project was deep within the basement of a fully operational hospital, where traditional delivery methods were not feasible due to weight and access limitations.

The contractor used advanced laser scanning to map existing conditions and precisely overlay the MRI dimensions to chart the most efficient delivery route. Because the MRIs were too heavy for the elevators, the team engineered a custom delivery by placing a gantry in the hospital’s atrium to lower the units to the basement.

Crews widened doorways and removed railings to accommodate the machines, and even prepared utility connections in advance. Almost a year after the laser scanning began, the MRIs were successfully installed with minimal disruption to hospital operations.