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2/4/2013

A collaborative construction process produces the new MaineGeneral

MaineBiz, Feb. 4, 2013

When Augusta's new MaineGeneral hospital opens in the fall of 2013, the $312 million project will showcase not only the latest medical diagnostic and treatment services, but also a new trend in construction management expected to benefit the hospital and the companies involved in its creation.

Integrated Project Delivery is a collaborative form of construction management requiring all project stakeholders to contractually agree to share in the risks and rewards associated with a large-scale construction project.

The process differs from more traditional construction methods by encouraging project owners, design professionals and builders to work together throughout the project instead of handing off responsibility once their part of the work is done.

Whereas an architect typically designs a project and then hands the blueprints to a contractor to execute them, IPD requires the architect, contractor and project owner to work in concert throughout the process.

The upside is maximized efficiency and reduced waste and the opportunity to harness the talents and insights of individuals who might not normally get to see a job through to its completion, according to Chuck Hays, president & CEO of MaineGeneral Medical Center at MaineGeneral Health.

"While IPD is still in its infancy, it has really shown a lot of promise from both a schedule and cost perspective while still maintaining quality," says Hays. "By having all contractors in on the design process, they can immediately tell you a better or cheaper way to do something. It's also more efficient from a labor standpoint."

Hays credits the approach with putting the hospital project "a couple million dollars" under budget and seven months ahead of schedule.

Mammoth project

When completed, the 640,000-square-foot, four-story hospital will house 192 private patient rooms, a helipad, a streamlined emergency department, 10 operating rooms, a medical library and meeting space for up to 300 people.

At $312 million, the new MaineGeneral campus is the largest construction project in the state. At the height of construction last summer, 400 to 500 workers — 92% from Maine — worked to mold 4,500 tons of steel and 1,900 truckloads of concrete into a cutting-edge medical facility for the Kennebec Valley region.

Latest updates to our Photo Gallery:

Visiting a friend or family member who's had a baby at MaineGeneral's New Regional Hospital? This is what the patient corridor likely will look like when the facility opens in December 2013. The pounding roar of the drill and the whine of a diamond wire saw reverberate on Crotch Island, carving off 240-cubic-foot blocks of Deer Isle granite, which will ultimately be carved into some 300 panels that will adorn the exterior of the nursing units at MaineGeneral’s New Regional Hospital in Augusta. Welcome to the Kennebec Savings Bank Lobby at MaineGeneral's New Regional Hospital! The contemporary space will be welcoming to visitors and allow them to find their destination with ease.

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