2008 Issue

www.utahengineerscouncil.org 28 Designs for Intermountain Medical Center By Donald K. Bradshaw, P.E. O NEOFUTAH’S LARGEST CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, WITH OVER 1.3 MILLION SQUARE FEET, THE INTERMOUNTAIN MEDICAL CENTER (IMC) HOUSES A host of engineering innovations to address the diverse needs of a full-service medical campus. Van Boerum & Frank Associates (VBFA) was selected by the architectural firm, Anshen &Allen, to be the mechanical engineers to provide these engineering inno- vations. Redundant water line connections, a tunnel backbone system, low-temperature operating rooms and the use of specialized design software are examples of VBFA’s in- novative engineering. Within the walls of the Intermountain Medical Center there are ex- amples of every conceivable situation that an engineer could encounter in the design of a medical facility. With each design challenge encountered, VBFA chose to be pro-active in providing designs that were high in quality and reliability, and were innovative in their approach. Knowing this, the designs that were used can serve to be the model for future state-of-the-art work in the field of mechani- cal engineering. Many of VBFA’s designs at the Intermountain Medical Center were conceived with saving energy in mind and thus provide the Owner long-term economic benefits. Unique primary and secondary pumping systems, analysis of humidification and economizing costs, and application of water-side economizing all provided ways of saving the Owner operating costs. The shear size of the campus and the diversity of systems and their uses required that the mechani- cal consultant be experienced and capable of designing a complex medical campus. Thousands of pieces of equipment needed to be selected. Hundreds of drawing sheets needed to be produced. The efforts of over 40 engineers needed to be coordinated. To accomplish all this, a broad base of knowledge and expertise was required. VBFA knew what was required and what was unique about each area of the hospital and was able to provide a state-of-the-art design for each. In today’s healthcare environment, specialized and complex analysis and procedures are required to stay competitive. State-of-the-art facilities are an absolute necessity to the survival of a patient-care system. The mechanical systems that are necessary to support those state-of- the-art facilities are required to be state-of- the-art themselves. VBFA is proud to say that they have provided just such systems. The campus opened for patient use on October 29, 2007: the very date that has been planned for several years. The project was delivered on time; and since the opening day, patients have been treated at a facility that will be the flagship of the Intermountain Health Care system for many years to come. VBFA developed the concepts for the central plant, tunnel and penthouse mechan- ical rooms. Designs included central chilled water and steam systems, tunnel, mechanical rooms, ductwork, piping, plumbing, medical gases and fire protection. VBFA coordinated with the hospital equipment consultant, kitchen consultant, civil, structural and electrical engineering consultants. Over 40 of VBFA’s engineers and draftsmen contributed to the mechanical design of the project. continued on page 30