CAPE CORAL, Fla.—Skanska USA, a leading construction and development firm, has announced the delivery of Lee Health’s 12-bed intensive care unit (ICU) expansion at Cape Coral Hospital. Located at 636 Del Prado Blvd., the healthcare project consisted of an 11,190-SF vertical expansion to support Cape Coral’s growing population and reduce wait times for patient treatment. In addition to adding 12 ICU rooms and staff support areas with a tie-in to the existing second floor, the renovation also increased its dialysis units from four to six.

The expanded ICU now features a first-of-its-kind HVAC pandemic mode system, which can transform the unit into a negative pressure environment to contain and prevent the spread of infectious disease. The negative pressure unit was built to closely replicate Lee Health’s Gulf Coast Medical Center’s 52-bed ICU expansion in Fort Myers, FL.

“We are proud to partner with Lee Health to deliver this hospital expansion that caters to the ever-growing healthcare needs of Southwest Florida,” said Bob Kramer, Vice President and Account Manager for Skanska’s Florida building operations. ” We construct buildings that will change the lives of people who enter and we are pleased to deliver a facility that will play a key role in helping to further advance Florida’s healthcare system for the benefit of the communities we serve.”

With a construction budget of $9 million and designed by architecture firm Studio+, Cape Coral Hospital serves as the healthcare hub for one of Southwest Florida’s largest cities. It also boosts bed capacity from 291 to a total of 303, bringing more options for critical care to the growing area.

As a leader in healthcare construction, Skanska has completed several transformative hospital and medical projects throughout Florida, including the expansion and renovation of the Gulf Coast Medical Center in Fort Myers; the state-of-the-art medical facility Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute in Downtown Orlando; and the renovation of the Salah Foundation Children’s Hospital at Broward Health. Currently, Skanska is also leading the construction of a new 580,000-square-foot, seven-story acute care hospital in Lakeland, Fla.

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BONITA SPRINGS, Fla.—Stevens Construction has finished the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation Cancer Clinic at the Bonita Health Center, located at 3501 Health Center Blvd., Bonita Springs, announced Daniel Adams, Stevens Construction executive vice president.

The 17, 372-square-foot renovation houses an infusion center with 32 infusion chairs, four private infusion rooms, offices, serenity room, lab and nurse station. The project also includes an oncology outpatient clinic with ten exam rooms, phlebotomy, pharmacy, laboratory and offices. During the multi-phase project, the 41, 850-square-foot Bonita Health Center remained in operation.

The Stevens Construction project team consisted of superintendent Eric Mitchell and project administrators Sue Ziegenfus and Maria Bartolome Sica. The project was designed by Studio+.

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TEHACHAPI, Calif.—Remediation of asbestos and lead will be part of a redesign project for the Tehachapi Valley Healthcare District’s old hospital building. According to Tehachapi News, the project site, located at 115 W. E. St., requires remediation of those toxic elements, which have been found in walls, paint and floor tiles. However, no mold was discovered during a site audit.

The local architect, which is called “studio.,” also of Tehachapi, was awarded the renovation project. The firm studio will design the retrofit as well as assist with permitting, construction and ADA compliance.

According to the report in the Tehachapi News, studio.’s goals for the renovation of the healthcare facility include evaluation of both the exterior and interior of the edifice and drafting a plan for where the mechanical features will go—as well as where carpets, signage and cabinets will be added or removed.

Randy Weinstein, owner and principal designer with studio., was quoted in the article as promising that his firm will evaluate the older parts of the hospital to see which features can be saved and thereby incorporated into the new design paradigm.

The Tehachapi District paid for a Summary of Comprehensive Asbestos, Lead and Moisture Intrusion Inspection Findings analysis of mold and asbestos, which was completed in September. Yowell Environmental Services of Bakersfield, California, performed this services. While Yowell did not find mold in their inspection, water had nonetheless leaked into various sections of the building, which would require attention as part of the project.

Other design work by architect studio. includes redesigning interior spaces for various boutiques as well as renovations of residential towers around Southern California.

The precise cost of the construction work in Tehachapi will be determined once the architect submits a preliminary design plan, followed by bids on construction contractors. However, the Tehachapi News estimates that the project cost could top $1 million.

Tehachapi is a small community of just over 12,000 people located in Southern California’s “High Desert” country near Edwards Air Force Base.

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