North Carolinians from all 100 counties come to UNC for their cancer care. The new Cancer Hospital contains outpatient clinics, 50 inpatient hospital beds, a laboratory, a radiology center with three linear accelerators and a cyberknife, a pharmacy, ancillary services, chemotherapy infusion center, radiation oncology center, education facilities, patient support services, and a variety of other services and programs. In addition, transitional research spaces dispersed throughout the facility will help convert discoveries made in the laboratory to use in patient treatment. The related office building will have offices, conference rooms and other staff support areas. A pedestrian bridge will connect the new buildings, parking decks and hospitals to one another.
Developing the project
The new UNC Cancer Hospital was Skanska's first major project with the client, UNC Healthcare. In the past, UNC Healthcare had some unfavorable projects delivered under the multi-prime contract method. This was their first project using the construction manager at-risk format, so a lot of early "general contractor" stereotypes had to be overcome. With strong operations involvement in pre-construction through the start of construction, we worked with the design team to deliver a first class project within budget for the Hospital.
Constructing the project
Over 37 logistical drawings were included in the bid packages displaying items such as hospital traffic plans and function, the overall phasing of the project, construction limits and traffic flows, crane placement, and sheeting/shoring plans. Over 60 bid packages were developed for the four phases of the project including smaller packages for client desired Historically Underutilized Business involvement. The early site phase included demolishing an existing pedestrian bridge, relocating major underground site utilities, and excavating the site for the building structures. Rock and unsuitable soils were large hurdles encountered but resolved without affecting schedule. The second phase included constructing the hospital, a seven-story cast-in-place concrete structure, with a structural steel penthouse level on top. The building is primarily wrapped with precast concrete and curtainwall glass, also with brick and metal panels. The third phase, across the street, is a four-story structural steel office building with similar exterior finishes, connected by a new structural steel pedestrian bridge continuing across another street to an existing parking deck. The final phase involves demolition of the existing Cancer Hospital and final sitework.
Client's View
"Skanska’s preconstruction team has been extremely helpful in assisting with the design, identifying value engineering items, working with the design team in avoiding problems, and cost management . . . This is UNC Hospitals’ first project using construction management at risk, and the preconstruction process has greatly enhanced the overall project development.”
Mary A. Beck Senior Vice President Planning and Program Development
Environment
The North Carolina Cancer Hospital project is unique because it is a pilot project for a program called the Green Guide for Healthcare, which is similar to the LEED Rating System but focuses specifically on green building strategies for health care facilities.
Benefits for the community
North Carolinians from all 100 counties come to UNC for their cancer care. To better serve these patients, this new, integrated space will include:
• Over 320,000-square-feet, allowing more room for a growing patient population
• Expanded and enhanced multidisciplinary clinic space
• Specially designed facilities for high-technology tumor assessment imaging and treatment
• A 50-bed inpatient unit and state-of-the-art infusion suite
• Enhanced amenities for patient treatment as well as patient and family support
• Teleconferencing facilities to connect UNC physicians and the state’s community-based physicians in patient treatment planning
• A three-fold expansion of dedicated space, specially designed for the growing number of pediatric cancer patients
• A healing environment emphasizing natural light, indoor courtyards, gardens, and public art
