Boston, MA In response to Greater Boston’s critical healthcare needs during the coronavirus pandemic, McDonald Electrical Corp. (MEC), working in tandem with general contractor, Suffolk, provided fast turnaround electrical installations required in the set-up of temporary medical isolation tent facilities for Boston Healthcare for the Homeless Program (BHCHP) in Boston and Cambridge.  

The NECA contractor performed electrical work at the COVID-19 temporary medical tent facility at 112 Southampton St., next to the Southampton Street Shelter from March 17^th to 20^th. The project entailed installation of convenience outlets, lighting, heat, special ventilation systems, smoke detectors, emergency lights, and exit signs as well as wiring for bathroom trailers and portable shower rooms. A temporary generator was utilized to power the Southampton facility. The South End facility has two tents: one has 20 separate bays to quarantine asymptomatic patients; the other has capacity for 16 patients with COVID-19 symptoms.

McDonald Electrical provided electrical installations at the second BHCHP temporary emergency medical facility, located at 1640 Cambridge St. in Cambridge, from March 31^st to April 2^nd.

The medical isolation tents at both facilities are being used for the COVID-19 screening, testing, patient care, and quarantining of an increasing number of non-critical care homeless persons who have contracted the virus.

McDonald project managers Dave Keenan and Linzie LaRusse headed the MEC project team, managing a crew of nine IBEW Local 103 electricians – Mike Baker, Brian Bates, John Sullivan, David Wilkey, Justin Allen, Marc Dilworth, Jordan Barry, Connor Fallon, and Kevin Ferstler. The team worked 12-hour days to complete the electrical construction for the projects within only a matter of a few days.

“We received the call from Suffolk Construction on March 16^th, visited the site, and hit the ground running on St. Patrick’s Day,” said Keenan. “Suffolk managed the project very effectively, and the McDonald Electrical team is proud to have been able to provide emergency response to the city’s urgent healthcare needs, and that Suffolk entrusted us with the project.”