Everett, MA CHA Everett Hospital, one of two Cambridge Health Alliance acute care hospitals, can be found just north of Boston. To improve the hospital’s wayfinding and access to the main lobby, CHA awarded Wise Construction the addition and renovation project that included a new extended entrance, renovated lobby and addition of a LU/LA elevator.

In the project’s beginning phases, Wise and project partners–isgenuity, LLC, Gale Associates, Inc., Goldstein-Milano, LLC, and R.W. Sullivan Engineering–took note of the dense traffic flow of patients and staff entering and exiting the hospital. Keeping the goal to continue access through the front entrance for as long as possible in mind, a design for temporary access was immediately put in production.

“One of the unique and challenging aspects of this project was to build and maintain a safe temporary main entrance while expanding the adjacent existing main entrance,” said Bill Angelosanto, VP, healthcare. Quickly, Wise was at work creating a temporary exterior wall and saw cutting existing concrete foundation to build 10 temporary stairs and a temporary walkway/ramp around an existing telephone pole. The temporary structure was built into the existing front façade windows to the lobby where they installed a temporary Stanley Dura-Glide automatic doorway. A cover for the top landing of the stairs and ramp was also constructed for temporary use.

Once a safe, temporary entrance was complete, Wise began construction on a new LU/LA elevator, elevator shaft and mechanical room located adjacent to the existing entry vestibule. “The Garaventa elevator’s design basis was developed to provide patients handicap access to the newly renovated lobby and registration area,” said Angelosanto. The lobby renovations include a new reception desk, a waiting area for patients, and a registration center.

In addition to the interior renovations, Wise re-did the exterior canopy, signage and sidewalk. The new canopy was extended towards the street, which created the opportunity for larger, clearer signage to improve wayfinding. “This was my first time working with the ALUCOBOND Metal Paneling system that runs along the exterior entrance,” said Nicholas Fanjoy, assistant project manager, “and it became my favorite feature by the end of the project. The sharp finish and striking colors of the panels really made the new entrance to this building all come together.”

The new main entrance gives the CHA Everett Hospital’s 200,000 patients easier access to the hospital lobby and enhances their understanding and experience of the hospital’s location.

Wise Construction provides preconstruction, construction management, general contracting and design-build services, specializing in renovation projects in occupied, highly sensitive spaces. Wise works with biotech, healthcare, higher-education and corporate clients throughout the Greater Boston area. The success of the firm has been bolstered by the local knowledge and relationships it has earned through more than three decades of service to its clients. For more information, visit www.wiseconstruction.com.