Meeting Notes
Shands Healthcare – Hospital Expansion Project / November 10, 2005Project Name / Meeting Date
ShandsHospital at the University of Florida, Gainesville, FL / 05191-00 / November 15, 2005
Project Location / Flad Project Number / Date Typed
Preliminary Project Review Meeting with the State of Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, Office of Plans and Construction (AHCA) / 1 of 3
Type of Meeting / Client Project Number / Page
PresentRepresenting
Skip Gregory, Bureau ChiefAHCA – Office of Plans and Construction
Alex Masterton, Electrical InspectorAHCA – Office of Plans and Construction
Jason Jiang, Mechanical InspectorAHCA – Office of Plans and Construction
Brad Pollitt, Vice PresidentShands Healthcare
Richard Redmon, Vice PresidentSkanska USA Building Inc.
Jack Neale, PrincipalAffiliated Engineers, Inc.
Neil McCallum, Project ManagerFlad & Associates
J. David Knapp, Project ManagerFlad & Associates
A preliminary meeting was held at AHCA’s office in Tallahassee to review the ShandsHospital expansion project and future development of the new campus. The following project overview was discussed:
- LongRange Master Plan –
The long range master plan for Shands was reviewed. Shands is developing a master plan for the future development of the 32 acres south of Archer Roadto the east of the VA hospital. The ultimate build out of this site over the next 20 years could be a 1200 bed replacement hospital with parking structures, out-patient services, central energy plant and limited commercial space. The main entrance for the project will most likely shift to SW 16th Avenue in the future.
- Phase One Design
The first phase of the master plan will include the construction of an eight to ten story 200-220 bed tower with 24 bed units including a diagnostic and treatment base focused on Cancer Care. A 800 car parking garage and central utility plant will be included. A 300 car parking lot may be constructed in Phase One in lieu of the parking garage. The new tower will be connected back to the existing hospital with a tunnel under Archer Road and an elevated bridge over Archer Road. The first phase will be constructed on the northwest corner of the new campus on the site of the old University Centre Hotel (to be demolished). Future bed towers may be devoted to pediatrics, cardiac care or some other specialty.
- Phase One Schedule
A bar chart schedule for phase one bed tower project was presented. The master plan for the entire campus will be completed and submitted for board approval in February 2006. The schematic design AHCA review is scheduled for April 2006 with approval of design development in August 2006. Groundbreaking is scheduled for November of 2006 with project completion by 2009.
The following issues were discussed relative to the Phase One expansion tower:
- Smoke Evacuation System-
The 2004 Mechanical Code is unclear on the requirement for a smoke evacuation system for high rise hospital buildings. AHCA indicated that the high rise smoke evacuation system will most likely not be required. Appropriate HVAC air pressure relationships must be maintained for negative, positive and neutral air installations. Smoke evacuation systems have been known to adversely affect these code air pressure requirements.
- Economizer
HVAC economizers can be utilized if the appropriate air changes and air pressure relationships are maintained. AHCA has been discouraging economizer usage in HVAC systems to avoid improper air balance.
- Project Components and Design Approvals
Phase One of the project can be separated into components to allow timely approvals of the plans and to expedite inspections. The site / tunnel, garage, bed towerand central energy plant can be submitted as separate projects. The bed tower could be furtherdivided into structure, shell and core, and / or the pedestrian bridge. AHCA will require sprinklers and temporary lighting to be shown in the shell and core package. Each project will have to be submitted, inspected and approved separately. The desired separation of the project buildings or bed tower components will be reviewed during the schematic design stand-up review. Site, foundation and other construction plans can not be submitted or approved until the design development plans for the entire project have been submitted and approved.Long range master plans are not reviewed or approved by AHCA.
- Early BedTower Opening Options and Construction Approvals
The construction approvals will be achieved in phases on a three week rotation. It would be desirable to approve each floor one at a time. A fire watch will be required if the building is partially occupied. Occupancy approvals can be granted for both staff (for move in and training) and patients. The building life safety components will have to be fully operational to allow partial occupancy.
- Applicable Codes
The building codes for the project will be the 2004 Florida Building Code. The 2006 AIA Guidelines are currently available for internal comment and will be published in March / April 2006. The 2006 AIA Guidelines should be used for this project with the inclusion of more restrictive portions of the 2001 AIA Guidelines.
- Utility Options – Central Energy Plant (Shands or GRU operated options)
Shands and Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU) are exploring the possibility of utility provided chilled water, steam, hot water, and emergency power. AHCA will review the central energy plant whether it is owned and / or operated by Shands or GRU.
- Emergency Power Options
Shands is considering connecting all or a portion of the HVAC chillers to emergency power. Per the AHCA discussions, this can be achieved with stationary or portable generator sets. It would be desirable and more economical to separate the code required life safety power from the desired chiller back up power. The chiller emergency power does not have to meet NFPA 110.
- Hurricane Protection
It was noted that medical gas tank farms, transformers and other critical ground mounted equipment must be impact protected by walls or other methods. Any protection must fully extend above the equipment. Appropriate tie-downs will have to be provided for roof top equipment.
The foregoing represents my interpretations of items discussed and decisions reached during this meeting. If there are any questions, corrections, or omissions of substance, please contact the writer within five days of receipt.
Prepared by:J. David Knapp, AIA
Cc: Pollitt, Redmon, Neale, McCallum, Stillman, Wright, Kenney, Bowers, Myhre
C:\DOCUMENTS AND SETTINGS\DKNAPP\DESKTOP\SHANDS\AHCA\AHCA MTG 10-10-05.DOC