Expanding a healthcare facility is a unique challenge—balancing construction activities with uninterrupted patient care demands a masterclass in planning, precision, and collaboration. For Chesapeake Regional Healthcare (CRH), in Eastern Virginia, their ambitious three-year Master Facility Plan aimed to strategically enhance critical services through a multi-phase approach. The success of this project offers valuable insights into how careful phasing can turn complex challenges into triumphs.
Why Phasing Matters in Healthcare Construction
Phased construction is essential in healthcare environments where operations must continue around the clock. By dividing large-scale projects into manageable segments, teams can minimize disruptions, safeguard patient safety, and maintain operational continuity. However, it’s not just about breaking projects into smaller parts—it’s about crafting a seamless strategy that aligns construction with the hospital’s priorities and daily operations.
The CRH Hospital Master Facility Plan
This comprehensive project involved four key initiatives, each carefully phased to accommodate hospital operations:
A two-phase effort to deliver cutting-edge cancer care facilities, including a new 32,000-square-foot addition and a 10,980-square-foot renovation of existing spaces. Features included advanced treatment areas, physician offices, and modernized imaging suites, all while maintaining full operational capacity.
By reimagining the existing lobby as a state-of-the-art physical therapy space and modernizing the exterior with striking design elements, the project created a lasting impact without disrupting patient flow.
A 75,000-square-foot vertical expansion added 22 new intensive care rooms and 28 step-down rooms, along with a shell floor for future growth. The existing ICU was renovated to accommodate larger, more efficient patient rooms.
Constructing a vertical addition above an active hospital required innovative strategies, including temporary roofing systems that protected operations. The result? A high-performance critical care facility delivered without compromising hospital activities.
A 24,000-square-foot transformation to expand postpartum rooms and introduce a short-term neonatal intensive care unit. When existing conditions posed unexpected challenges, the team responded with accelerated schedules and extended workdays, delivering the upgraded space with significant cost savings for the hospital.
An innovative prefabricated utility bridge connected upgraded plant utilities to the hospital, avoiding the risks of underground work beneath a critical roadway. By assembling the bridge offsite and installing it in a single four-hour crane lift, the team ensured uninterrupted access to the Emergency Department—a seamless solution to a potentially high-risk challenge.
Keys to Success in Phased Healthcare Construction
This project for CRH demonstrates that thoughtful planning, effective communication, and flexibility are critical for achieving success in phased construction. Here’s how these elements came together to deliver results:
Every phase was designed to prioritize patient care. For instance, renovations were scheduled strategically to avoid disruptions, and temporary roofing systems during the tower expansion ensured hospital spaces remained dry and functional.
Complex challenges inspired creative solutions. The CUP utility bridge is a prime example—prefabricating the bridge offsite reduced risks, streamlined installation, and maintained uninterrupted emergency services.
The team engaged hospital staff, design partners, and subcontractors early and often, fostering a collaborative environment. This proactive communication ensured alignment on goals and addressed potential hurdles before they became roadblocks.
Maintaining hospital operations during construction required meticulous logistics. Whether it was managing water intrusion during the tower build or coordinating phased equipment installations, the team executed with precision, ensuring seamless functionality throughout.
Breaking the project into phases allowed the team to celebrate progress along the way. Each completed phase brought enhanced facilities online, benefiting patients and staff sooner while maintaining momentum.
Transforming Challenges into Wins
The CRH Master Facility Plan showcases the power of phased construction to tackle complexity head-on. From managing existing conditions to integrating advanced technology, the team’s strategic approach turned challenges into opportunities for innovation and excellence.
With a fully operational hospital as the backdrop, the project delivered expanded services, improved patient care, and a future-ready facility—all while ensuring the hospital never missed a beat.
Phased construction can oftentimes be the solution for a seamless experience in healthcare environments. The success of CRH Hospital’s Master Facility Plan is a testament to the impact of thoughtful planning and execution. As more healthcare facilities prepare to expand or renovate, this project offers a clear roadmap: build with precision, plan with empathy, and always keep the patient at the center of the process.
