Healthcare – RMH Group

The RMH Group provided engineering services for a major healthcare expansion in Northern Colorado designed to meet growing regional demand. The project includes a new north-side tower that will expand hospital capacity from 191 to as many as 323 beds while adding a dedicated cancer center, expanded emergency department, and enhanced imaging and cardiac services.

Phase 1 includes new imaging and cardiac catheterization facilities, as well as a medical office building (MOB) housing the cancer center. Phase 2 delivers a 229,270-square-foot inpatient tower connected to the MOB, along with a larger emergency department. The cancer center comprises 16,000 square feet of oncology space, including a 10,000-square-foot infusion center with 22 treatment bays. The inpatient tower provides 96 MedSurg and ICU beds, with infrastructure in place to support future expansion. Emergency services will be expanded with 12 additional treatment beds and 10 Clinical Decision Unit beds.

The project required an extensive upgrade to the campus’ critical mechanical, plumbing, and electrical systems, including fire pumps, an electrical distribution system, hot water heat exchangers, and a chiller. Technology integration was a key component of the expansion, featuring sophisticated systems for structured cabling, security, audiovisual, nurse call, real-time location services, distributed antenna systems, and emergency responder radio communications infrastructure.

While this project did not pursue LEED certification, it was designed with an emphasis on energy efficiency. UCHealth’s goal for the project was to achieve a minimum Energy Star 90 rating and an Energy Use Intensity (EUI) that meets or exceeds the State of Colorado Building Performance Standard of 172 EUI for hospitals. RMH’s engineering design of the MEP systems for the project is contributing to an estimated Energy Star 96 rating and an EUI of 161.4.

This expansion is designed with a forward-looking vision to accommodate future service growth, seamlessly integrating with the existing facility while embodying the architectural vernacular of northern Colorado. The new tower’s interior design will emphasize open, light-filled spaces that capture the breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape, setting a benchmark for patient-centered care in the region.

The RMH Group provided engineering services for a new 48,000-square-foot behavioral health and acute care facility in Aurora, Colorado, delivering a critical community resource for long-term treatment, detoxification, crisis stabilization, and inpatient mental health care.

Designed to support 61 patient beds across detox, crisis stabilization, and isolation units, the three-story facility also includes therapy spaces, nurse stations, behavioral health support areas, and clinical treatment environments. RMH developed an all-electric building design centered on a high-efficiency heat pump system and advanced building controls to reduce energy consumption while maintaining the stringent ventilation, comfort, and safety requirements of a healthcare facility. The team incorporated specialized behavioral health design considerations throughout the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, including tamper-resistant fixtures, ligature-resistant components, and secure patient environments.

The facility achieved designation as an Xcel Energy Efficient Building by focusing on electrification, energy performance, and sustainable building operations. Working closely with the owner, architect, and contractor, RMH helped align the design with project budget objectives while maintaining performance, safety, and operational goals.

The project earned the 2026 CAHED Collaboration and Innovation Award in recognition of its integrated approach to behavioral healthcare delivery and facility design.

The AdventHealth Castle Rock Cancer Center is a 24,000-square-foot outpatient facility that supports medical oncology, infusion, and radiation oncology services.

RMH provided integrated mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and technology engineering from schematic design through construction administration. Engineering design supported specialized clinical environments, including exam and procedure rooms, infusion bays, pharmacy and administrative spaces, and a radiation oncology suite with a linear accelerator vault. System infrastructure was planned to allow future expansion with minimal operational impact.

Mechanical scope included HVAC system modifications, zoning, and integration of controls with existing base-building systems. Plumbing and medical gas systems were designed to meet oncology and infusion requirements. Electrical engineering addressed power distribution, lighting, and controls coordinated for clinical workflows and advanced medical equipment. RMH also provided fire alarm and fire suppression performance specifications, along with low-voltage systems for structured cabling, telecom pathways, nurse call, audiovisual, and paging.

Construction-phase services emphasized coordination, constructability, and system performance through submittal reviews, RFIs, and site observations. The completed facility delivers resilient, adaptable building systems supporting high-reliability cancer care for the Castle Rock community.

The RMH Group provided engineering services for a phased hospital renovation program that expanded medical-surgical capacity and modernized patient care environments within an active healthcare facility. The project converted underutilized administrative, rehabilitation, observation, and support spaces into new inpatient care areas, including medical-surgical rooms, observation units, telemetry facilities, nursing support spaces, and patient-focused activity and dining areas.

The team designed infrastructure upgrades to support the addition of new patient rooms, including HVAC modifications, plumbing and medical gas distribution, electrical system enhancements, nurse call integration, and low-voltage technology systems. A major component of the project transformed the existing executive suite into a new 8-bed Medical-Surgical Unit and 14-bed Observation Unit with shared clinical support spaces and expanded patient-care infrastructure. Additional renovations converted eight observation rooms into medical-surgical rooms, reconfigured rehabilitation spaces to support inpatient care, and added private patient rooms on multiple floors.

Throughout the project, RMH leveraged existing building systems wherever feasible while extending critical healthcare infrastructure to meet current codes, patient safety requirements, and hospital operational standards. The phased approach enabled the hospital to increase bed capacity, improve patient care environments, and enhance clinical flexibility while minimizing disruption to ongoing operations.

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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