Healthcare

The expanded Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at St. Francis Medical Center offers an exceptional level of care for infants born before 32 weeks of gestation, those weighing less than 3.3 pounds, or critically ill babies who require breathing assistance. The expanded NICU includes several enhancements:

  • Increased capacity from 30 to 46 beds
  • Two couplet rooms, allowing mothers and their babies to stay together while receiving expert, round-the-clock care. At the time, the St. Francis Medical Center’s NICU was the only one in Colorado and only the fourth in the nation to feature couplet rooms.
  • Additional space for caring for multiples, such as twins and triplets
  • Advanced room lighting designed to support and stimulate infants’ circadian rhythms
  • A family sleeping area with privacy partitions and fully private restrooms
  • An outdoor patio and wellness garden
  • A NICU family lounge for families of patients to connect with others in similar situations
  • A dedicated breast milk storage room
  • A family pre-discharge room to help parents prepare for returning home

The NICU expansion was the first phase of a multi-part project comprising 168,000 square feet and costing $102 million. This project also included a new emergency department, operating rooms, antepartum rooms, and space for future growth. RMH is serving as the project’s mechanical and electrical engineer, as well as the lighting designer.

To enhance minimally invasive surgeries for patients, Penrose Hospital constructed a new interventional hybrid operating room on the second floor. This facility features advanced medical imaging devices that allow surgeons to visualize and access smaller areas of the body, making procedures less traumatic than traditional surgical methods. As the mechanical and electrical engineer on the project, RMH designed the HVAC, plumbing, normal and emergency power, and lighting systems to support the new operating room, control room, and various supporting devices, including new diagnostic equipment, medical equipment booms, and surgical systems integration equipment.

RMH provided mechanical, electrical, and plumbing design services for a new 16,500-square-foot outpatient orthopedic clinic offering a wide range of services to address various musculoskeletal conditions and injuries. Located on the second floor of a medical office building, the facility provides therapy and pain management services.

The space creates a supportive, healing environment for patients, families, and staff. The design follows evidence-based best practices, incorporating safety measures, healthy materials, and biophilic elements inspired by nature to create a calming and restorative atmosphere. The facility meets high standards for performance and patient care, positioning it as a model for future healthcare design.

The St. Francis Medical Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, underwent an expansive project to cater to a 50% increase in patient volume since 2008, aiming to meet the growing community’s needs by expanding its capacity and enhancing care delivery.

The project included the construction of a 250,410-square-foot acute care facility, which features an emergency department, operating rooms, and an upgraded Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). It also provides additional space for future growth. Key features of the expansion are a 30,000-square-foot parking area, a 34,000-square-foot Emergency Department with adaptable space, two operating theaters, a 22-bay post-anesthesia care unit, and 12,500 square feet for future operating rooms on Level 1. Level 2 has reserved space for surgical expansion, while Level 3 saw a 31,000-square-foot NICU expansion and renovations. Level 4 includes interstitial space for mechanical and electrical infrastructure, and Levels 5 and 6 will accommodate 64 MedSurg beds. RMH also provided the design to update the central utility plant to support the expansion, including a new chiller, boiler, and cooling tower.

The project utilized an Integrated Project Delivery method, completing 56 days early and 2% under budget. RMH introduced innovations such as tunable LED white light technology in the NICU to support infant circadian rhythms, enhancing care quality. Additionally, sustainability and efficiency were emphasized through daylight harvesting and high-efficiency lighting, balancing energy savings with maintaining safe care environments.

The RMH Group delivered comprehensive mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineering services for the Children’s Hospital North Expansion. This project transformed a 47,000-square-foot clinic into a 236,000-square-foot pediatric hospital, addressing the growing needs of Northern Colorado and Wyoming families.

Key services included HVAC, medical gas, building automation, energy code compliance, and fire protection systems. The project utilized the Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) method, ensuring efficient collaboration and innovation. Notable features include wireless lighting controls and advanced standby power generators, enhancing energy efficiency and reliability. The expansion also added a new medical office building, an outpatient clinic, and critical infrastructure upgrades. This leading-edge facility now offers comprehensive pediatric services, including orthopedics, cancer care, and emergency services.

The collaboration between the project team and the Owner’s staff led to creating a facility that achieved an Energy Use Intensity (EUI) of 150, surpassing the future compliance benchmark of 172 EUI set by the State of Colorado’s Building Performance Standards for hospitals by 2030.

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