When it comes to their patients, Newton-Wellesley Hospital (NWH), a member of Mass General Brigham, prioritizes quality, safety, and personal attention. NWH needs its facilities to match the same high-level as its medical care. That’s why when Wise Construction was awarded the project to relocate the hospital’s pediatric beds to a renovated unit on the fourth floor, we completed it on time and with utmost precision.
The biggest challenge of the once unoccupied inpatient floor was converting it into Newton-Wellesley Hospital’s new Pediatric unit in just 12 weeks. In order to complete the project in such a fixed timeframe, Wise and project partners— Andy Carmichael (NWH Project Manager), Colliers International New England, LLC., Linea 5, Inc. and TCI Engineers—took a lean approach. “We worked as a team right at the front end of the project. We made sure everyone agreed to the timeline, agreed to the issued documents for procurement, and agreed on what aspects were the main focus of the project to accomplish our schedule,” says our VP of Healthcare.
The main focus of the project consisted of procurement of items and on-time deliveries. One of these items was an exhaust fan for the new pediatric isolation room that the team needed to obtain and install on the roof two floors above. Another item was securing components specifically designed to protect patient safety like the showers, toilets, sinks, hardware, special enclosures, and more. One of the hardest items to procure on time was the artwork for the headwalls and hallway. The pieces were delivered almost three months after the project construction was finished, so in advance, Wise created a solution to create openings for the artwork which enabled us to install them with ease in the now-occupied rooms. Now, the colorful, fun pieces add a substantial lightness and playful ambiance to the Pediatrics rooms. “The headwall artwork, which we knew would arrive late, was installed with minimum disruptions to the staff and patients and was the cornerstone of the project,” says the Project Executive.
“Communication and teamwork across the entire project team was essential in delivering this fast-paced project on time,” says Kerry Pavey, Project Manager. “The project teams took all the components of construction, worked it into the design, and then worked it into procurement to ensure prompt deliveries.”
The 7,000 SF inpatient renovation included a total of 12 new pediatric inpatient rooms: a new pediatric isolation room with a dedicated fan, a family room, a multi-purpose activity room, child-safe storage, a formula room, new staff support areas and more inpatient rooms. Other scope items included new casework, updated ceilings, refreshed painting and flooring, and other finishes.
The Wise team wouldn’t have been able to accomplish such a fast-track schedule without the endless amounts of teamwork, time and dedication from all project partners involved, especially Andy Carmichael, NWH Project Manager, for his major contributions. “The owner and design teams’ prompt responses, combined with a strong push in the field is what made this project a success despite the challenges we faced with shipping and lead time issues. I’m proud to have been part of this team,” says Kerry.
The project’s Superintendent comments on his Wise team: “I loved working with my Wise team. Justin Willette (Superintendent) supported me throughout the project and helped steer me through the many challenges of working in an active hospital environment. He was always willing to help in any way he could. Bill and Kerry were a joy to work with, and last, but certainly not least, the Wise field team was a key factor in making 4 South a successful project.”
Project Partners:
Owner: Newton-Wellesley Hospital
Property Manager: Colliers International New England, LLC.
Architect: Linea 5, Inc.
Engineer: TCI Engineers
Wise Project Team:
Project Manager: Kerry Pavey
Project Manager: Brian Vatelle
