Boston Children’s Waltham delivers world-class pediatric care specialties and services. Their commitment to meeting the present and future needs of patients and families has led to a very meaningful partnership with Wise Construction in transforming their facilities.
One of the most recent facility upgrades focused on the Radiology department, where Wise Construction partnered with Isgenuity, McNamara & Salvia, and R.W. Sullivan Engineering to renovate their MRI suite. The project involved transforming the space that previously housed two MRIs— one for patients and one for research. The objective was to expand and modernize one of the MRI suites while ensuring the uninterrupted operation of the other throughout construction. The updated suite now serves as the primary MRI space, providing increased square footage, new equipment, and a more comfortable and functional environment for staff and patients. The previously active MRI has since been decommissioned, with its space designated for future services.
The project began with the key goal of keeping one MRI space fully operational during the renovation of the other. However, because the two MRI spaces shared a control room, the first task was to split the control room in two so one MRI could remain active.
“The planning behind keeping the adjacent MRI operational while we worked was one of the most critical parts of the project,” said Gabriela Santos, Project Manager. “Every move we made was coordinated to minimize noise, vibration, and disruption.”
Wise’s coordination efforts were thoughtfully planned to prioritize the hospital’s daily operations, including extensive night shift work to prevent noise and vibration during the day. This became particularly important when planning the delivery of the new MRI. Unlike the original MRI, which was brought in through the side of the building, we chose to deliver the new MRI through the roof using a ceiling hatch. This approach avoided the need to rebuild the entire façade, saving time, reducing costs, and preventing disruption to the adjacent active MRI suite. This hatch required precise structural reinforcement and alignment to support the delivery while allowing for future equipment replacements.
As Wise Senior Superintendent Herb Pitts noted, “We had to think ahead with the design. The hatch isn’t just for this MRI—it’s a long-term solution that makes future work more efficient and less disruptive.”
In preparation for the MRI’s prompt delivery, the team needed to prepare the room for its arrival. After removing the old MRI, the team demoed the walls, ceilings, and existing electrical systems. From there, the room was built up layer by layer: fire-rated plywood, magnetic shielding, another plywood layer, and then the finished walls. These layers were essential to block radio frequencies, reduce noise, and prevent image interference. Within that process, steel reinforcements were added to support the ceiling hatch, which would serve as the MRI’s access point.
Special non-ferrous tools and materials were used throughout the project to avoid unintended metal-to-metal contact. The shielding process involved tight specifications, with every layer isolated to ensure it didn’t connect to surrounding steel. Once the MRI was delivered, the same layering process was repeated on the hatch to seal the room entirely.
Also in preparation for the MRI installation were significant adjustments to the building’s mechanical and HVAC systems. Initially, the plan was to reuse the opening of the existing quench vent—a vital safety feature designed for helium induced emergencies—but unforeseen conditions on the roof necessitated coring and relocating a new opening for the quench. Our mechanical upgrades included a new chiller, exhaust fan, condensing unit, and a dedicated air handling unit.
On August 10, 2024, the MRI was delivered. The unit was picked and lowered into place and carefully positioned on vibration-dampening pads. Thanks to Siemens Medical Solutions, the team worked within a tight timeframe to connect all equipment and meet the exact standards of the MRI’s operation.
“Lining up the MEPs after the MRI’s installation and ensuring they fit seamlessly with the layout was like solving a puzzle,” Gabriela shared. “It’s a small but crucial part of what makes the room function safely.”
With Siemens scheduled to turn on the magnet on September 9, there was only a month to finish construction inside the room. Simultaneously, we were completing the surrounding spaces, which didn’t require as much urgency. The redesigned layout expanded the space to include the MRI room, a smaller control room, a system component room housing cabinets that operate the MRI, a pre-procedure room, and a resuscitation area.
Wise Construction is proud to have played a role in delivering this critical project. From the initial demolition to the final connections, every detail was planned and executed with care, ensuring the space met the highest standards.
“This was one of the most exciting projects I’ve worked on,” said Gabriela. “The coordination of the MRI delivery and all the components leading up to it made the job really special.”
Project Partners:
Boston Children’s Waltham
isgenuity, LLC
McNamara & Salvia
R.W. Sullivan Engineering
Wise Project Team:
SVP/Project Executive: Eric Libby
Senior Project Manager: Kerry Pavey
Project Manager: Gabriela Santos
Project Engineer: Suhani Jain
Senior Superintendent: Herb Pitts
Assistant Superintendent: Craig Hughey
Photography: Richard Gayle Photography