Outpatient and Ward Renovations and Additions, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Montgomery, Alabama

The Outpatient and Ward Renovations and Additions project included three additions, as well as renovation throughout the existing hospital. The 145,000-square-foot total addition consisted of emergency services, an outpatient clinic, inpatient and outpatient pharmacies, radiology, laboratory service, morgue, surgery, intensive care unit, central sterile supply, physical therapy, hospital administration, three new elevators and new bed areas for all nursing units.

The 100,000 square feet of renovated areas included five nursing units, hospital administration, occupational therapy, respiratory therapy, medical library, and support areas. The renovation also included fully sprinklering the medical center.

The HVAC system changes included the addition of one 488-ton centrifugal chiller and one 110-ton air-cooled reciprocating chiller. The centrifugal chiller was added to the existing chilled water system. The reciprocating chiller was added to provide year-round cooling to the operating suites when the remainder of the facility was operating in the economizer mode. Eighteen air-handling units were added to heat and cool the new additions. A new direct digital control system was added to the entire facility to help optimize the operating cost.

Electrical design for this project included medium voltage distribution, low voltage systems, emergency generators and isolated power systems. Communication systems include nurse call, paging systems, fire detection and alarm, as well as provisions for telephone systems. The design included complete field investigations for the renovated portions of the facility.