Project Description
To provide Renovation works within the basement floor of the Peter Munk wing at the Toronto General Hospital Building. Within this basement floor space, the hospital will house the newly created Image Guided Discovery Laboratory that will provide much-needed augments to UHN’s fully utilized imaging research, high performance computing and phantom prototyping facilities.
What we did
Full Infrastructure upgrades and renovation works to a 6,500 square foot space that consists of a virtual autopsy room, shielded translational MRI and imaging development bays; laboratory space; electronics, robotics and phantom development rooms and image analysis dry labs. The space was fitted with the equipment necessary to conduct research, from fume hoods and soldering stations to spectrometers and imaging systems.
Unique Challenges
Construction of the project within the Basement floor level of a live hospital environment provided a challenge to source a route to exhaust to the exterior of the building to achieve negative pressure in the space. Numerous investigations and trial options were undertaken by the Gen-eer team and presented to the client until we achieved the final solution of utilising an existing shared exhaust duct, with the creation of baffles and dampers to prevent any backflow issues into adjacent shared spaces. To overcome and mitigate any potential risk with this, Gen-eer implemented a coordinated shut-down strategy with the various departments of the hospital based on availability. This provided for one of the more complex exhaust situations we have encountered in our extensive experience.
The project included for Infection Control Hoarding to be constructed within a fully operational Staff corridor used for quick access between buildings, that was also used for the emergency delivery of patients and access for emergency personnel. Gen-eer constructed a Hoarding that was in full compliance with Infection Control and delivered a speedy removal / re-construction system to maintain emergency access and use of this specific area.
Project design included for a significant quantity of below ground services, with the initial tender information including an assumption of shallow depth location for these services. During the construction period, the services were found at a depth of 7-feet to most areas in stark contrast to the issued design information. This required extensive on-site coordination for retaining the excavated spoil heaps on the project site within a basement floor location of a fully operational hospital environment, but also to recognise the need for the construction works to progress safely in close proximity to these materials.
The Outcome
Gen-eer, Consultant and Client Teams working as one Project Team led to a very successful project delivery with a Delighted Client and End-users of the space. Together with the existing facilities, this space will represent a unique resource for Canadian research.
