Building for health.

Construction of hospital projects can be very demanding and often requires specific expertise, especially when working around patient populations. This kind of work involves detailed planning and meticulous project managers and crews. Strict working hours must be adhered to and precise precautions are taken in order to secure a site.

Construction areas have to be carefully sealed off so that airborne debris does not compromise the sterile environment. To accomplish this, our construction supervisors work closely with the hospitals' facilities teams to determine which areas may be partitioned safely. We take whatever time is necessary to ensure the protection is strong enough to contain construction dust within the work area. Whether the project is a renovation or an addition, it is critical that the day-to-day activities of the hospital staff continue to service the patients' needs.

Earlier this year, ACC Construction began a major modernization project at SUNY Stony Brook University Hospital. A division of one of the leading public research university hospitals in the country, we embarked upon that unit's first comprehensive upgrade in 20 years, since the opening of the facility. In addition to the construction of the build-outs, ACC was responsible for major infrastructure upgrades, taking into consideration the various changes that had occurred over two decades, encompassing everything from electrical usage to sustainable building materials.

Under the guidance of ACC Project Executive Andre Viviani, the project entailed the complete renovation of the Heart Center, as well as an M/S Inpatient Unit and the construction of a new mechanical penthouse.

ACC's previous experience in hospital construction facilitated the successful phasing of the project so that patients were not affected by dust from the construction nor increased noise levels. The work was scheduled in two phases, which enabled the Center to remain fully operational during construction. Phase I consisted of renovations to the Orthopedic Unit, the first portion of the Heart Center, elevator banks and the construction of the Mechanical Penthouse. Phase II covered renovation to the M/S Inpatient Unit and completion of the second portion of the Heart Center.

Throughout the construction, ACC used extensive filtration units and temporary partitions. With the renovation program nearing completion, we have accomplished the project objectives without impairing the safety of the patients. And that is always the goal when working in hospitals.

Another project that ACC completed last year was the ground-up construction of a 20,000-square-foot, three-story Outpatient Health Center for St. Mary's Hospital in Brooklyn. The facility was constructed with a steel moment frame in compliance with New York City seismic code.

In addition, we recently completed a Biological Research Laboratory in Westchester. The project comprised the conversion of a vacant 3,600square-foot building and included the installation of a new tap and distilled water system, refrigerated room, fume hoods and exhaust systems. ACC was also responsible for new roofing, HVAC, structural steel framing and a highly technical electrical fit-out.

Over the years, we have worked on several projects at this facility that have required careful phasing, including the renovation of an onsite daycare center and the installation of a state-of-the-art conference center for the staff. We have also been responsible for refurbishing the hospital's grounds, constructing an Olympic-approved 200- 400- 800-track with special surface for wheelchair accessibility, installing multiple ADA ramps and constructing public and private roadways for the facility and parking lots.

Hospital work can be very rewarding and, although ACC follows strict safety guidelines on all construction sites, there are many additional considerations when working around patients, such as making sure no disruptions occur in what could be life-saving equipment.

Moreover, we make concerted efforts to reduce the noise levels of the work and clean air filtration systems and vents.

ACC Construction's expertise in hospital construction has been accrued over many years and we continue to improve our service lines and capabilities on behalf of our healthcare clients.