VHB and Perkins&Will supports one of UMass
Memorial Healthcare’s largest in-patient bed expansion

Worcester, MA From the earliest stages of master planning through design, permitting, and construction, VHB is dedicated to supporting their healthcare clients and delivering complex healthcare facilities. Their team understands the issues and inherent challenges in the healthcare environment and engages in developing innovative solutions to meet their clients’ goals: to deliver quality patient care. 

VHB collaborated with UMass Memorial Healthcare and architect Perkins&Will to undertake the healthcare provider’s largest in-patient bed expansion to date. UMass Memorial Healthcare has invested $125 million to convert a former nursing home into the North Pavillion, a cutting-edge 72-bed inpatient tower that will help address the acute need for hospital beds in Central Massachusetts. VHB’s integrated project team brought their deep local knowledge of the city’s development processes to expeditiously guide this regionally impactful project from survey, permitting, and design to completion. 

Project complexities included not just the complete retrofit of the existing 80,000 s/f building and a 14,500 gross s/f building expansion; grading for a new sidewalk and wetland crossing on a site with steep topography both necessitated close coordination with the city. Additionally, planning utilities for bulk oxygen and a new generator, transformer, and ambulance bay involved a carefully choreographed process. To provide safe, convenient access to the new facility, the VHB team also designed a crossing system across a busy arterial roadway. 

Among unique features for this high-profile project are its natural 4.1-acre setting with a wetland crossing, an outdoor community space, and a new healing garden. State-of-the-art patient rooms for advanced care give patients access to their medical information and teleconsultations with the latest interactive technology. 

The facility also has an inpatient/outpatient radiology department and the capacity to add 24 inpatient beds.