AUGUSTA, Maine — More than 600 construction workers along with MaineGeneral managers and board members cheered as one of the last structural steel beams was raised and set in place at MaineGeneral Medical Center’s new regional hospital.
The traditional topping out ceremony comes less than a year after ground was broken for the 640,000-square-foot, 192-bed new regional hospital.
Following tradition, a tree was placed on the topmost beam symbolizing growth and good luck and it was draped with an American flag and a MaineGeneral banner. The construction workers on site were treated to a barbecue following the brief ceremony.
The hospital is scheduled to open December 2013, six months ahead of schedule. Chuck Hays, the medical center’s president and CEO, credits the accelerated schedule on the collaborative approach adopted for the project.
“Good weather last winter helped, but by far the major portion of the gain in the construction schedule was from efficiencies of the partners working together on all design and construction decisions,” he said.
He praised team members, architects SMRT and TRO Jung│Brannen, contractors H.P. Cummings and Robins & Morton and the hard work of the construction crews. John Scott, senior vice president for H.P. Cummings, said the project, done largely by Maine subcontractors, sends a message to others contemplating large construction projects in the state.
“Not only does Maine have the quality construction workers necessary to build a large project, Maine construction workers have the ability to build a better project in less time,” he said.
He also thanked MaineGeneral for challenging the construction management team to find ways to maximize participation by Maine workers and thanked the crews for performing above and beyond all expectation.
The new regional hospital is designed to consolidate all inpatient care. It is modeled on the medical center’s Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care, which opened in 2007 and combined all cancer treatment into one regional facility. The new facility will include a 24/7 emergency department, state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment services and comprehensive outpatient care.
In addition, planning is under way to convert the medical center’s Thayer Campus in Waterville to a comprehensive outpatient center with 24/7 emergency care.
The hospital is the first in Maine being built to LEED Silver for Healthcare standards. Through efficiencies gained in heating and cooling systems, the new facility is expected to save 12 million gallons of water and $900,000 in operating costs per year.
For more information, visit www.OurNewHospital.org.
