$300 Million hospital project

UTICA, N.Y. >> The Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) received a $300 million Health Care Facility Transformation grant from the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) in April. Now, MVHS and the project team have started the first phase of the design process to build a new regional healthcare campus.

Architects, including the urban planner from NBBJ, in collaboration with the MVHS outreach team, will conduct numerous interviews and information gathering sessions to obtain feedback and guidance regarding the design of the new hospital and its integration with the surrounding downtown area. “This is a truly exciting mile--

stone and one that many members of our internal and external communities have been looking forward to,” said Scott H. Perra, FACHE, president/CEO of MVHS. “Recently representatives from the project team were in Utica meeting with members of our leadership teamto outline the process going forward.”

This next phase of the process includes meeting with work groups from the many different departments within the healthcare system, as well as a committee that will gather and consider community input during the design and construction phases.

“It is extremely important to the design process that we meet with the employees and medical staff who will be working in the new facility. This helps to ensure it functions in a way that allows themto provide the best care possible to their patients,” said Jonathan Wilch, principal at NBBJ. “It is equally important for us to meet with community members so that both the healthcare facility and campus provide a look and atmosphere that fits into the overall vision for downtown Utica revitalization.”

“We are impressed with the thoughtful and innovative ideas we have heard from the community thus far,” said The Paige Group President and CEO Nancy Pattarini. The Paige Group has been engaged to assist with community input on the project. “Through the outreach process we are beginning to see a clear alignment of interests. Especially important will be howthe facility design complements the surrounding area, and how the new campus promotes connectivity of the adjacent neighborhoods. This is a very high priority for the community, it is part of MVHS’s vision, and it is the philosophy and expertise of NBBJ.”

As announced earlier this year, the construction manager for the project is the Turner Construction Company. NBBJ and Turner have extensive experience working with one another. Together they have completed more than $2.6 billion in projects, many of which have focused on healthcare. They have also selected and begun working with the engineering firms IPD Engineering and Smith, Seckman, Reid, Inc. (SSR) under thedirection of the Hammes Company – the project management company hired by MVHS to facilitate the new hospital project.

In the coming months MVHS and the project team will be working on the design of the new healthcare complex as well as finalizing their Certificate of Need (CON) application to theNYSDOH. The anticipated date of submission is expected to be in November of this year. Simultaneously MVHS will also be working with the downtown property owners to begin the acquisition process for the land. It is anticipated that offers to property owners will begin this summer with the final purchase contingent upon MVHS receiving approval of the CONby the NYSDOH expected by year end.

“We still have many more steps in the process including the environmental impact study for the proposed area,” said Perra. “The design and CON process is another exciting step in what will be a multi-year initiative for healthcare and our community.”