Craig Daily Press / Hospital project 'on time and on budget'

Archive for Thursday, March 12, 2009

Rafielo Alonso cuts rebar Wednesday at the new The Memorial Hospital site. Robins & Morton officials have said that construction on the project is on time and on budget for its projected November completion date.

By Ben Bulkeley

March 12, 2009

Despite the snow and the cold, the sun and the mud, The Memorial Hospital Project is on time and on budget, construction and hospital officials said.

Construction of the 80,000 square foot, 25-patient-room building began in October 2008. The $42.6 million project is scheduled to be completed in mid-November and open for patients in December.

"This project is going extremely well," said John Albert, vice president of project management of American Health Facilities Development and owner's representative for the hospital project. "This is the high-water mark."

Albert said he has worked on a large number of hospitals but that TMH's project has been one of the best he has been involved with.

"I've worked on almost 300 hospital projects and built almost 100 hospitals," he said. "I wish I could clone this project and copy it all over the country."

Rob Kerns, project superintendent, said construction is moving along just as he had planned it.

"We've started putting down the slabs on the roof, and the exterior frame is about 35 percent done," Kerns said.

With a break in the snow, workers have been able to construct the roof. Beach-ball sized Styrofoam blocks have been cemented, and the membrane is being placed on top of the roof.

Right now, there are about 85 workers at the site, Kerns said.

During the project's peak, there will be 130 to 150 workers on-site, and "roughly 40 percent will be local. And by local, I mean Western Slope," Kerns said.

Albert said that the project still is following the $42.6 million budget that was approved more than a year ago.

"It's all on schedule," Albert said. "We're five months into the project now, and we're happy to report that we're on time and on budget."

The stone fireplace near the front of the hospital is almost finished, and the masonry around the building is ongoing.

The landscaping work will be done quickly to allow plants to take root before the December opening, Albert said.

One of the last things to be completed will be the ceiling, Albert said, because of the heating, cooling, plumbing, electrical and special systems that need to be installed.

Working in Craig has been easy, Albert said, because the community has worked hard for the new hospital.

"I've worked almost continuously since 1976, and it's been a chore to get a new hospital but I've never seen a community work so hard for a new hospital," he said. "And this community deserves it. We want to make this hospital the best you can get for the money."

12 March 2009 at 3:57 p.m.

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STANHATHHORN (Anonymous) says…

John Albert V.P.of project management said, “I've worked on almost 300 hospital projects and built almost 100 hospitals”, and “I've worked almost continuously since 1976”. That equates to building more than 3 hospitals per year, plus involvement in construction of another 9 hospitals per year. An impressive resume!

12 March 2009 at 7:57 p.m.

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highway1340 (Anonymous) says…

They miscalculated how mushy the ground was and had to dump another 200,000 into the foundation and dirt work, then the project was delayed a month because they couldn't pull the right permits, another two months because the didn't have licensed contractors, and another month because the plans were all messed up and this is the smoothes project they've ever done? They must have been directly involved in some pretty crappy projects over the years if this the best. They have foundation, some dirtwork, and some steel so far the hardest part is still ahead. Stan, they say this as a PR stunt and because the hospital is paying them so much they will be able to by a small Island in the south pacific when the projects all done. I was going through a stack of news papers in my garage yesterday and came across the first hospital plans that the hospiatl put out about five years ago. Is it just me or does the current design look almost identical to the old one except for a few cosmetic chanes? That hospital was only going to cost about 20 million. Five years later the price tag jumped to 42 million? Sounds like this Albert fellow is making a windfall. I wish we could get someone in that building to look at the cooked books they are trying to shovel the community. Stan, how much do they stand to lose for 2008? It will all come out in the wash soon enough I guess, but not until it's all ove but the crying.

12 May 2009 at 2:10 p.m.

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birdchamp (Anonymous) says…

highway1340,

Where do you get your half-truths?

“…the project was delayed a month..” Isn't the new facility advertising a December 2009 opening date? What was the original date?

“…the(sic) didn't have licensed contractors..” Not completely true from my conversation with a city employee who knows. A more accurate statement would have been “not licensed in the City of Craig.” You may find it hard to believe, but not every contractor in the country carries a Craig license.

“That hospital was only going to cost about 20 million. Five years later the price tag jumped to 42 million?” Why don't you go to a board meeting and ask them this question? So much easier to complain anonymously.

“…they will be able to by(sic) a small Island in the south pacific when the projects all done..” How much are islands going for nowadays? I'm sure you would know.

“I was going through a stack of news papers in my garage yesterday…” Recycle, man, recycle. (OK, not a half truth, but warrants a comment nonetheless…)

“I wish we could get someone in that building to look at the cooked books they are trying to shovel the community.” Dreams do come true. Isn't this a HUD financed project?

By the way, you should try spellcheck.