NDMU – University Academic Building – OT Labs

This project consisted of the conversion of approximately 5,000 square feet of unfinished storage space into Occupational Therapy Labs, within a partially-below grade level of NDMU’s University Academic Building. This suite will be utilized as hands-on learning environment for students aspiring to enter the Home Healthcare and Physical Therapy subsectors of nursing. The goal of this program is to train young professionals who will be assisting elderly/injured patients seeking to return home after stay in a hospital or outpatient rehab center. In addition to the collaborative teaching and admin areas, CAM’s fit-out included a new handicap-accessible restroom, laundry room, medical beds, and kitchen, to simulate the environment they would encounter in a typical assisted living facility or independent residence.

The existing gravel floor had to be leveled to create a suitable sub-base for a newly-poured concrete slab, and a new exterior entrance required tapering existing pavers to interface at the proper elevation to meet ADA. Significant MEP modifications were required, tapping into existing water and sanitary lines (below-grade), routing electrical back to panels in the adjacent mech. room, expanding existing IT/security systems, adding new VAV boxes and ductwork, and retrofitting the shell sprinkler system. Work had to be competed with time-of-day considerations, reserving certain activities for off-hours given the occupied nature of building and classrooms directly above.

LSOP Mainstreet Renovation

The renovation to the “Main-Street” facilities at the Little Sister’s of the Poor – St. Martin’s Home campus required CAM to raise the existing roof structure within the middle of an occupied facility, and provide a new library, salon, community store, coffee shop, formal dining facility, and common areas. In addition, our team renovated all main corridors within the facility and completed a full mechanical and electrical system extension and upgrade.

In similar nature to the previous phases, the building remained occupied and fully functional throughout the project.

 

 

St Elizabeth Rehabilitation & Nursing Center

Renovating the public areas of an occupied building is always challenging, but doing so throughout a multi-story structure occupied by the elderly and their caretakers is particularly so. Virtually every finish material for the renovation was either custom made for the project or purchased from vendors throughout the United States and Europe. The design intent for the renovations was that newly installed entryways into the resident rooms, hallways, and common areas would resemble their former homes and to create “neighborhoods” where the elders reside in a “person first” environment. Seven different pediment entries were all custom fabricated and received a different painted finish to create the appearance of a “neighborhood”. Work was completed to the resident entries and corridors without need for a single resident relocation. Each of the corridors was completely renovated with new wall coverings, new drywall bulkheads, and custom-designed residential-style lighting.

The existing nurses’ stations were converted to gathering areas, and custom built-in charting/med stations were relocated to newly created recesses within the corridors. CAM’s forces completely renovated the two day rooms on each floor, leaving one operational while the other was under construction. Warming kitchens were renovated and a new scullery to serve the kitchens constructed without interrupting meal service. Four bathing facilities on each floor were completely renovated with custom made, onsite cut, European ceramic tile, residential style lighting, towel warmers, and new bathing equipment

Elevator lobbies and common areas throughout the resident floors, as well as the main lobby, with its connecting hallways, were renovated without interruption to the daily activities of the facility. Work was conducted in multiple phases, day rooms were relocated, and the challenge of a schedule was slowed so as not to engender anxiety among the residents; all of these tasks were ably handled by CAM forces.

One particular challenge was the fact that the originally contracted design team defaulted as the project began, making CAM the de facto design/builder for the project.

The second part of CAM’s contract included the construction of the new outdoor pavilion directly adjacent the roadway leading to St Elizabeth’s main entry, which is used for parties and entertainment for the residents and their families. This new custom-built structure provides a sheltered area for entertainment and respite.

LSOP St. Martin’s Home

In early summer 2007, CAM was retained by the Little Sisters of the Poor as a Construction and Design Advisor for the construction of their new 180,000-200,000 square foot Provincial Home, one of only three in the US, serving the needs of the 80 residents, 20 Sisters, and the needs of the entire Eastern Province for the order.

Originally accepting the role as owner’s expert construction advisor, CAM would have been precluded from constructing the facility. Throughout more than 18 months of regularly scheduled design and planning meetings, CAM was an integral part of all discussions regarding programming, materials selections, budgets, cost analysis, parallel estimates, and value engineering. At CAM’s urging and advice, environmentally conscious materials and green building techniques were incorporated into the plans and program for the new structure. Plans for the new structure were halted at 100% design development drawings, and the Little Sisters of the Poor elected to renovate their existing occupied facility, hiring CAM as the Design/Build Construction Manager at Risk for the project. This faith-based home has required extensive pre-construction work to allow it to proceed to final design and construction, all completed at the originally quoted price. Multiple phases of construction have been added as contributions have been received to allow the project to proceed.

CAM aided the Sisters in preparation of an RFP for design services and selection of the team to complete this multi-year, multi-phased project. Challenges that CAM has overcome during this project include providing for independent and assisted living needs as well as those requiring skilled nursing care, with a convent for the Sisters themselves, while constantly evaluating cost and durability.

The 200,000 sq. ft. renovation project is planned for at least five phases, three of which are completed, including the complete design, the chiller replacement, and most currently, the renovation of four “cottages” totaling 56,000 sq. ft. as well as the renovations to 22,000 sq. ft. of the lower level’s laundry wing, boiler wing, corridors, and cottage mechanical rooms.

Phase IV work will renovate the large chapel, the convent, and the Postulate. Future plans include renovations to major administrative areas, creation of a new Main Street, and the balance of the lower level.

Like many faith-based retirement communities, St. Martin’s Home includes a chapel, an auditorium, dining rooms, a commercial kitchen and laundry, administrative areas that were quite expensive, a medical suite, offices for Social Services and physical therapy, a publication office, and a planned “Main Street” area, which contains resident amenities such as a game room, beauty salon, and gift shop. Construction costs for the complete renovation project are estimated at approximately $25 million.

Villa Julie Infirmary Renovations

This 2-phased project was broken up into a ramp and canopy project, which offered additional indoor/outdoor amenity space to elderly residents, as well as interior office renovations. It entailed the construction of a multi-level enclosed porch addition, replete with exposed wood ceiling, screened in fencing, fans and lighting systems. New and replacement roofing work was done to the existing building, in addition to various improvements to the nurses station, as well as upgrades to the basement corridor, as utilized by residents and the Sisters of Notre Dame in their caretaking functions. CAM self-performed some of the carpentry and wood decking work, which yielded cost savings to the owner.