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Despite a few minor hiccups, the $75 million expansion of Adventist Hinsdale Hospital appears to be on track, hospital officials said.
“We lost a little time earlier this summer due to a labor strike, and we had a few other things slow us down, but we are on track to complete the project within our budget and pretty much on time,” said Alan Schneider, VP/Chief Patient Services Officer for the hospital.
Schneider is in charge of the $75 million project that will add a new, 104,000-square-foot patient pavilion to the hospital site, located at 120 N. Oak St. in Hinsdale.
Construction began in August, and the foundation has been put in place and a steel frame has been erected on the site.
The project’s completion, initially expected in January 2012, likely will occur in February or March 2012, Schneider said.
“Even though we lost a little time due to the strike, and lost a few more days due to rain this summer, we have had very good, dry weather throughout the fall that has helped us keep moving forward,” Schneider said.
“When you are putting up concrete and steel, moisture can be a problem, so we have been fortunate in that regard,” Schneider said.
Pre-cast concrete exterior wall sections are being fabricated by a Wisconsin-based manufacturer, and those walls are scheduled to be put in place within the next month or two.
“Once the exterior walls are in place and we are enclosed, we can then begin working on the interior,” Schneider said.
The construction is part of an extensive modernization project that eventually will result in the addition of private patient rooms, renovations to the existing facility and a helipad atop the parking garage on the west side of the hospital.
The bed count in the hospital will decrease from 342 to 290, but officials said the level of patient care will increase.
“Our vision is to provide private patient suites built around patients and families. New patient units will create a best-practice environment for our top-notch physicians, nurses and other healers to deliver care,” said David Crane, president and CEO of the hospital.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the Illinois Department of Transportation have approved the helipad, and the hospital will submit building permit applications for the helipad to the village in coming months, Schneider said.
Weekly planning meetings with contractors are a critical part in making sure all elements of the project are coordinated effectively, Schneider said.
Despite a few minor hiccups, the $75 million expansion of Adventist Hinsdale Hospital appears to be on track, hospital officials said.
“We lost a little time earlier this summer due to a labor strike, and we had a few other things slow us down, but we are on track to complete the project within our budget and pretty much on time,” said Alan Schneider, VP/Chief Patient Services Officer for the hospital.
Schneider is in charge of the $75 million project that will add a new, 104,000-square-foot patient pavilion to the hospital site, located at 120 N. Oak St. in Hinsdale.
Construction began in August, and the foundation has been put in place and a steel frame has been erected on the site.
The project’s completion, initially expected in January 2012, likely will occur in February or March 2012, Schneider said.
“Even though we lost a little time due to the strike, and lost a few more days due to rain this summer, we have had very good, dry weather throughout the fall that has helped us keep moving forward,” Schneider said.
“When you are putting up concrete and steel, moisture can be a problem, so we have been fortunate in that regard,” Schneider said.
Pre-cast concrete exterior wall sections are being fabricated by a Wisconsin-based manufacturer, and those walls are scheduled to be put in place within the next month or two.
“Once the exterior walls are in place and we are enclosed, we can then begin working on the interior,” Schneider said.
The construction is part of an extensive modernization project that eventually will result in the addition of private patient rooms, renovations to the existing facility and a helipad atop the parking garage on the west side of the hospital.
The bed count in the hospital will decrease from 342 to 290, but officials said the level of patient care will increase.
“Our vision is to provide private patient suites built around patients and families. New patient units will create a best-practice environment for our top-notch physicians, nurses and other healers to deliver care,” said David Crane, president and CEO of the hospital.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the Illinois Department of Transportation have approved the helipad, and the hospital will submit building permit applications for the helipad to the village in coming months, Schneider said.
Weekly planning meetings with contractors are a critical part in making sure all elements of the project are coordinated effectively, Schneider said.
“It’s a game of dominoes, and you have to make sure you do certain things in order before the next step is taken,” he said. “But we have a very strong team, and we have communicated well.”
Early in the project, some delays occurred when utility work — both inside and outside the building — had to be halted to locate pipes and wiring systems.
“In one case, there was a water system underground we thought was in one place, and it was about 20 feet away,” Schneider said. “But we worked closely with the village and got it figured out. The village has been great to work with.
“Those types of things you cannot foresee, but we are done with all the underground work now, and we hope we are about at the end of that phase,” Schneider added.
Rob McGinnis, director of community development for Hinsdale, said area residents have expressed few concerns over the work.
“There have been very few complaints from residents,” McGinnis said.
“The hospital hired a team of outstanding professionals that were able to anticipate challenges and handle them correctly the first time,” McGinnis said. “They have been good partners thus far.”
The hospital developed a web page to provide project updates to the public, and has added staff and security to help manage visitors concerns, Schneider said.
