With most of the work on the 23,000-square-foot Central Energy Plant completed, cool air is now flowing through the air conditioning system on several floors of the new Baptist Hospital. Chilled water necessary for the air conditioning to operate is generated in the CEP and circulates through the buildings. While the cooled air certainly provides a more comfortable indoor environment for workers, reducing heat and humidity is crucial for the proper installation of flooring and cabinetry.
The 57-acre campus incorporates a variety of design considerations that increase energy efficiency and lessen the demand placed on the CEP by the heating and cooling system. The position of the buildings on the site, choice of construction materials, landscaping design and plant selections, and other high- and low-tech features are some of the important energy-saving measures that were prioritized in the design of the campus.
Hospital
• Elevator installation is ongoing.
• Buildout is in progress on all 10 floors.
• Painting is underway on floors 1-4.
• Cabinetry is being installed on floors 1-3.
• Tile installation on floors 1 and 2 is ongoing.
• Walls on floors 8-10 are being framed and roughed in while mechanical, electrical and plumbing work continues on floors 9 and 10.
Bear Family Foundation Health Center
• The last of the building’s five elevators is being installed.
• Final roof inspection is complete.
• Interior buildout continues on all floors.
• Drywall hanging and finishing on floors 4 and 5 is underway.
• Installation of cabinetry has begun on floor 1.
Site
• Sidewalks are being installed in the town square.
• Installation of sidewalks and planters in outdoor areas between the hospital and health center has begun.
• Work on the final stormwater retention ponds has begun.
• Light pole installation continues.
Behavioral Health Unit
• Site has been cleared and erosion control is in place.
• Preparations for the building pad is ongoing.
Workforce and Economic Impact
• More than 815 workers are on site on any given day.
• $15.1 million has been paid in construction wages to the local economy since January 2021.
• More than half of the workforce is local or minority.
• Efforts to recruit more local and minority workers continue.