Skanska has signed a contract with CHA Hollywood Medical Center LP to construct the new acute care hospital building at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center in Hollywood, Calif. The contract is worth about $188 million.

The 195,000-sq-ft project consists of a new, 175,000-sq-ft, five-story building and about 20,000 sq ft of renovation to an existing courtyard and lobby. The building will include a medical/surgical patient unit, NICU, clinical lab, morgue and information technology services. Crews will also construct a new ramp for existing parking and perform various demolition and upgrades to existing structures required to support the new tower, including extensive remodeling to the existing patient tower.

Make-ready work began in February 2018 and the new Patient Tower is preparing to break ground next month, with construction wrapping up in late 2020.

Crews are currently completing work on the existing parking garage including a new ramp to the upper level, as well as a seismic strengthening project of the existing garage.

Skanska Vice President Jason Groshart says the project is in a very congested urban area and the new patient tower will be constructed between two existing buildings with limited access.

“The only access in and out of the site is on a private road that is shared with Children’s Hospital,” says Groshart. “This road is also the only access to the loading docks for CHLA and HPMC, so it will become congested. Site logistics have been a large focus for the team as the construction of the new tower is getting ready to begin.”

He says an extensive site logistics plan has been created and presented to all of the subcontractors, OSHPD and Children’s Hospital staff. “Numerous meetings have been held with all of the stakeholders, including CHLA in order to verify that all parties are aware of the upcoming impacts and have “bought in” to the plan,” says Groshart. “Communication will be the key to success on this project. Skanska will be given a radio from CHLA so they can communicate immediately with us if there is an issue on the common road. We will also provide CHLA with one of our radios so communication is immediate and any issues can be mitigated immediately.”

The project will also be sustainable. “Consistent with Skanska’s ISO 14001 certification, we are addressing specific key environmental aspects such as noise, dust, vibration, hazardous materials,” says Groshart. “All construction waste will be sorted and recycled as much as possible. Our goal is a 95% diversion rate from local landfills.”

Other members of the project team include KMD – architect; Saiful Bouquet – structural engineer; United Mechanical – mechanical / pluming engineer; and OMB - electrical engineer; GGG – demolition. Additional subcontractors include HVAC – ACCO; plumbing – Murray; electrical – ILB; framing/drywall – PCI; concrete - JT Wimsatt; structural steel – Herrick; shoring/deep foundations – Malcolm; and glass/glazing - Bagatelo’s.