When The Beekley Center for Breast Health and Wellness at Bristol Hospital opened its doors in October, a custom floor to ceiling waterfall was unveiled, along with a new option for women's health in central Connecticut.
The Beekley Center for Breast Health and Wellness is a comprehensive women's breast health center offering cutting-edge diagnostic testing, full care, and some of the most advanced medical treatments available. The center's difference lies in its focus on promoting mental, emotional, spiritual, social and physical healing for patients and their families.
"Bristol Hospital recognized the need to create a new center focused on the whole patient," said William Mascetti, president of ACG North America, Inc. of Bristol. "We were charged with creating a very special place, where the best medicine could be delivered within a unique and soothing environment."
ACG served as the design-build contractor on the project. The team included Fletcher Thompson Architects and RZ Design Associates, both instrumental to the success of the Beekley Center.
ACG's vast experience in both healthcare and hospitality was ideally suited to creating the desired "spa like" atmosphere. In addition to the waterfall, design features such as private patient suites, a gas fireplace, and an inviting reception area create a comforting and warm environment. Combining these tranquil elements with sterile infection control and other systems necessary to meet hospital standards required an acute understanding of clinical care construction and healthcare technology.
Construction of the wellness center was completed in just over five months, but planning for the facility began much earlier. Construction of the wellness center required the modernization of existing space previously occupied by the hospital laboratory. A process of relocating hospital offices to accommodate a new laboratory was followed by relocation of the laboratory facility, freeing up approximately 7,000 s/f for the new Beekley Center. Meticulous phasing and extensive planning was required to minimize patient and staff disruptions during construction activities.
Renovating existing space to accommodate specialized medical equipment presents a unique set of engineering challenges. The Beekley Center features specialized systems to support the latest medical equipment in breast wellness, including the Hologic Selenia Digital Mammography System, Hologic Stereotactic Breast Biopsy System, Philips Ultrasound System and the Hologic Radiation Treatment System. Both designers and contractors interfaced directly with the manufacturers to coordinate delivery schedules and ensure the space would meet all system requirements.
"Significant electrical, mechanical and plumbing upgrades were required to accommodate the sophisticated diagnostic and screening equipment," said Mascetti. "Considerable work was required to convert the space for this specialized use."
The Beekley Center for Breast Health and Wellness is the most recent project that ACG has completed at Bristol Hospital. Recently, ACG retrofitted existing hospital space to construct a new Hospital Pharmacy. In 2011, ACG completed the Sleep Lab, a specialized facility for patients with sleep disorders. The clinical facility features a quiet and relaxing atmosphere combined with advanced technology and equipment. ACG also completed a facility renovation project designed to accommodate a new Siemens 64 CAT Scan Unit.
Health and clinical care construction is one of ACG's specialties. The company is recognized for its ability to accomplish construction goals while remaining sensitive to the special needs of patients, medical, and administrative staff.