Birmingham construction company Brasfield & Gorrie recently delivered to Vestavia Hills a sparkling new community asset in the form of access to quality health care.
Swaid Vestavia Medical Center & Surgical Institute of Alabama opened its doors in mid-January. Built by Brasfield & Gorrie for Dr. Swaid N. Swaid, the two-story, 40,000-square-foot building consists of a 16-bed ambulatory surgery center. The first floor includes four operating rooms, two procedure rooms and a sterile processing department, plus a 2,200-square-foot diagnostic/imaging center. The second story is 20,000 square feet of medical office and physician space with laboratory and a physical therapy center.
“Access to best-in-class healthcare is a vital component of a strong community. We are pleased to have been a part of Dr. Swaid’s team to deliver a center that will increase the convenience of such care for many in our hometown and throughout the Southeast,” said Brasfield & Gorrie Vice President and Division Manager Ed Hauser.
The structural steel frame building is composed on the outside of metal panels and an architectural manufactured stone veneer. In addition, there is a sloped curtainwall at the corner of the building that faces U.S. Highway 31.
With construction taking a little over a year to complete, the general contractor said its biggest challenge was an aggressive schedule, as well as workforce and material availability.
The upswing in the economy over the past few years, while great for business, presents several challenges that have affected the industry not only on a local/state level, but nationally, according to the contractor. This increases the market demand for faster builds, so that consumers can benefit sooner on the facility’s offerings.
One way Brasfield met this challenge was through implementing construction technologies like collaborative construction software that provides real-time data to all parties, including the project management team, trade partners, designers and owners. Another technology that was employed was 3D modeling software, which enabled the general contractor to coordinate the building’s structure, mechanical, plumbing and electrical systems.
The challenge of material availability is becoming more common as more projects are being developed. This increases the lead time needed to obtain materials and equipment for completion of the projects. Manpower is also in high demand, so the contractor was proactive in managing the schedule with its trade partners on the project.
