Square Feet
244,000
39
Months
80
Construction Phases
Project Description
UW Medical Center Phase II is a critical expansion and renovation project at the UW Medical Center campus in Seattle. The work included constructing shell space in the new Montlake Tower and extensively renovating clinical, surgical, ICU, and support spaces in adjacent towers (Pacific, Muilenburg). MacDonald-Miller delivered mechanical infrastructure, plumbing, medical gas, HVAC piping, and ductwork, coordinated with controls, insulation, fire-stopping, and TAB subcontractors. The phases were carefully sequenced over 80+ stages to maintain hospital operations and minimize disruption.
Project Phases
Engaged at 30% design, our preconstruction team helped shape system strategies that eliminated 12 months of potential schedule risk before GMP was set.
Prefabrication of mechanical racks reduced onsite installation labor by 23% and shortened the mechanical schedule by 7 weeks.
All work was completed in a fully active hospital with zero service interruptions, necessitating strict adherence to infection control protocols, real-time coordination with clinical staff, and sequencing outside of regular working hours.
Impact
The completed UW Medical Center Phase II expansion now supports upgraded, modernized patient care environments including surgical, ICU, and outpatient clinical workflows in a fully integrated facility. The mechanical systems, installed with minimal disruption to ongoing operations, provide reliable support to mission-critical services and position UW Medical Center to meet evolving community healthcare needs well into the future.
Challenges
Restraints
Complex design integration across multiple towers with varying functional spaces, while maintaining continuous hospital operations, performing major renovations and new construction
Efficiency
Dividing work into 80+ phases to accommodate occupancy and safety constraints
Logistics
Tight coordination needed among mechanical, medical gas, architectural, structural, and other trades
Solutions
Phased Sequencing & Lean Planning
Structured construction into over 80 discrete phases to limit interference with ongoing hospital services
BIM Coordination & Prefabrication
Used 3D modeling to resolve clashes early and prefabricated racks and assemblies to speed field installation
Pull Planning & Lean Methods
Integrated lean construction planning to drive schedule adherence and workflow stability
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