Developing a master plan.
MERCY NORTHWEST ARKANSAS EXPANSION
Mercy is Northstar’s longest-standing client relationship, with our first project dating back to 1999. In response to the increasing health care demands in Northwest Arkansas, Mercy entrusted Northstar to develop a community master plan for a major expansion and renovation at its existing hospital campus in the region, quickly integrating into the project as a true strategic partner.
Project planning streamlines complexities.
The community master plan resulted in a series of 14 projects and a total budget of $277 million. Significant challenges had to be addressed including resolution to competing priorities and project sequencing to ensure a smooth roll-out of services. Once the projects and budgets were approved, Northstar was charged with leading the development and management of the on-campus projects. We created an overall project schedule outlining the project complexities and overlapping phases, which was critical to maintaining communication and timing across the entire team.
Construction included a new 274,000-square-foot bed tower, a 20,000-square-foot surgery department expansion, an 18,000-square-foot, two-level, gallery addition and 48,000-square-foot renovations to the existing hospital.
Operations continue through careful phasing.
One of the greatest challenges was keeping a bustling hospital completely operational while significant additions were completed. This included building a new tower, where shipping and receiving took place; adding a second-level gallery, shutting down the main hospital entry drive and entrance; and expanding the surgery department, directly above the existing ER. Northstar was instrumental in planning and managing the careful phasing of projects — many of which necessitated more than 20 phases — to ensure all operations were unhindered.