Upgrade HVAC systems serving the operating rooms at Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center
North Chicago, IL, February 2021
Project
Replace the air handling unit (AHU) serving the operating rooms with a larger unit to improve the capabilities of surgical operating rooms that provide top-tier surgical procedures to our veterans. Also, install dedicated terminal air box (TAB), for each section of the operating rooms to allow the medical staff to change airflow to meet patients’ medical needs.
Challenge #1
Increasing the CFM and allowing greater control of air were the primary goals of this project. However, the space available for the AHU was limited to the existing AHU’s foot print. To solve this, we installed a stacked AHU and a separate return air module 15 feet away. To get the AHU in place with limited access, the AHU was brought on site in modules and built on site and certified by the manufacturer.
Challenge #2
This project required a crane lift over occupied sections of the hospitial, posing a risk to patients and personnel. A critical lift plan was developed to minimize risks to all involved. EOS Mechanical’s superintendent Cesar Berrones implemented a scaffold system to allow the crane to drop and pickup the load without creating a swing point with the crane. This reduced the complexity of the crane pick significantly, reducing the crane lift time to two hours. Because of the shortened timeframe, we were able to coordinate with the hospital to vacate the hospital area.