St. Francis Medical Center Renovations

Penrose-St. Francis Health Services/Centura Health

Colorado Springs, Colorado

The RMH Group delivered comprehensive mechanical and electrical engineering services for an $8-million, 35,000 SF renovation of existing areas within St. Francis Medical Center (SFMC), as well as build-out of shelled areas from the original hospital construction. The project’s design and construction were phased to minimize impact on hospital operations and to improve project delivery time.

Existing shell space was built out into two new operating rooms requiring extension of existing HVAC, plumbing, medical gas, and electrical services from the hospital into the new operating rooms. RMH personnel helped select medical technology equipment vendors for operating room equipment, medical services booms, and technology integration systems to serve the new operating rooms. RMH staff also evaluated the impact of installing a smoke removal system and provided design for a code-compliant system. Modifications to the supply and return air delivery systems required for the smoke removal systems also allowed for reduced air change rates to the room during unoccupied periods, which can be utilized to reduce energy consumption.

The hospital’s post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) was reconfigured and expanded to provide a Stage II recovery area, which required the relocation of an existing physicians and staff lounges. RMH reconfigured the existing HVAC, plumbing, medical gas, and electrical systems in these areas.

A 32-bed orthopedic nursing unit, with associated medical and administrative support areas, was constructed in an available shelled space on the sixth floor. The HVAC, plumbing, medical gas, and electrical systems were extended from the existing building systems to serve the new nursing unit, with upgrades and capacity increases implemented, where required.

In addition, RMH provided engineering services for a new gastrointestinal (GI) lab located in shelled space. The new GI lab provides two new procedure rooms and support areas including a decontamination room, a patient recovery area, and staff administration and support areas. RMH reconfigured the HVAC, plumbing, medical gas, and electrical services in the area to serve the GI lab, providing supplemental capacity and system equipment, as required.