New hospital patient rooms and green roofs finalized

The $235 million, 475,000-square-foot project is taking shape quickly, with a crew of 300 workers daily.

Contractors began paving concrete for the loading dock in the back of the hospital Nov. 3, said Kevin O’Brien, project manager for Danis Building Co., the contractors building the hospital. Also, workers are heavily concentrated on patient rooms, which are expected to be completed first of all the hospital spaces.

A mock patient room has been constructed so hospital staff and contractors can determine the best design.

“We’re using this as a working room and bringing nurses in,” O’Brien said.

The private rooms have the latest technologies, including terminals for electronic health records, an integrated TV system, and anti-microbial materials for high touch areas.

“Anything high touch, like faucet handles, grab bars and door knobs are made with an anti-microbial product,” said Ron Connovich, Community Mercy Health Partners vice president of facilities and services development. “It inhibits the growth of microbes, which is a big issue when it comes to infection control.”

The rooms are also being built for a better patient environment. The rooms will have large windows so patients can get natural light and see the view outside.

Thanks to the windows, patients will also have a view of the hospital’s new green roofs. A small one located in the center of the facility was completed and planted in August. Another roof toward the back of the building was laid out and planted in mid-October. Both should be fully grown in three to five growing seasons, Kevin said.

The roofs aren’t just for patient environment but for energy conservation.

“The grass absorbs water and then it evaporates,” said Connovich. “It helps lessen storm water run off and retains about 70 percent (of rain water).”

An orange membrane underneath the roof prevents water from seeping through, Kevin added.

The soil also is a great insulator, helping the hospital stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter, Connovich said.

The hospital countdown clock is updated at springfieldregional.org.