SAN DIEGO, Calif.—C.W. Driver has completed construction on the renovation and modernization of the East Tower Nursing Unit at Sharp Grossmont Hospital, located just east of San Diego in La Mesa, California. 
The $26-million project delivers facility upgrades local taxpayers approved on the June 2006 voter ballot. Construction on the 71,000-square-foot project began in May 2012 and completed in October 2015.
Originally built in 1974, the seven-story hospital tower required upgrades to the infrastructure and renovation of its second through fifth floors. Partnering with architecture firm, Stantec, Inc., C.W. Driver completed renovations at each level, including upgrades to nursing units, entry corridors and elevator lobbies, in addition to the conversion of four semi-private patient rooms to meet Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility guidelines and the replacement of patient utility management headwalls. To modernize the infrastructure, the project team upgraded mechanical, electrical and plumbing, updating all elevator cars and controls, the hospital information system and the building’s lighting and finishes.
With the renovation located directly above active operating rooms, the project team worked with the hospital operations team to design a plan to mitigate any disruptions to the hospital’s ongoing operations. Throughout the duration of the project, the team carefully coordinated with subcontractors to properly contain noise, vibration, dust and handling of construction materials. Demolition was performed during off hours and all carts were covered to diminish any potential contamination in the corridors while debris was being removed.
To further limit the construction’s impact on hospital operations, noise and vibration activities were identified in the project schedule and communicated in advance to the Sharp team members to properly coordinate necessary stoppages. C.W. Driver also established specific protocol for unplanned requests for such stoppages, including appropriate steps to be followed.
