Good day to All!
Question, how often does a $300 million plus new regional hospital open in your back yard? It has been stated, it is a once in a lifetime happening. I would argue that for most people, this does not even happen in their lifetime, but if you are from Central Maine, it is happening to all of us right now.
I'm talking about the new MaineGeneral regional hospital in Augusta named The Alfond Center for Health, slated to open on November 9th of this year.
Alfond Center for Health, Courtesy of Gary Peachey
Alfond Center for Health
The project has been in the works for years, with many obstacles to overcome. One of the first big obstacles was choosing the location, and the choices were Augusta, Waterville or somewhere in between. With the new regional hospital replacing existing hospitals in Augusta and Waterville, the decision would not happen quickly or be taken lightly. Both communities were very concerned with losing one of it's largest employers and after all, who wants to have a hospital in your community one day and no hospital the next?
I give all the credit in the world to MaineGeneral's management team, headed by Scott Bullock and Chuck Hays for making this project a reality. Major milestones included, but not limited to, securing the certificate of need, locating a piece of land, gaining access to I 95, securing financing, winning over the majority of stakeholders, implementing the design and construction process, and the completion of the actual construction phase. Currently, systems are being tested and turned over to hospital staff. Training at the new hospital is in full swing and the new facility will be 100% operational prior to the November 9th transfer of patients from the two existing facilities. That transfer of patients in itself is a massive undertaking, with an estimated 190 patients involved.
Rick Tardiff, JS McCarthy; Steve Wiley, Senior Project Manager, Robins & Morton, and Norm at a recent reception at the new facility
If you have not already seen the facility, you will be in for a big treat, when you first lay your eyes on this complex, provided you are not the one that is in need of the facility! Hopefully, you will be visiting family or a friend who just had a routine surgery and is expected to have a full recovery. The perfect visit would be to the maternity ward to celebrate the arrival of a new family member! Regardless of what brings you to the new facility, you will be impressed with the many features that had patients, their families and caregivers at the forefront, as each and every detail was worked out.
Our team at G & E Roofing is very honored to be the roofing contractor of choice on this monumental project. The following are a few facts related to the roofing project:
- G & E Roofing start date - February 2012
- G & E Roofing completion date - October 2013
- Roof system - Carlisle fully adhered TPO over tapered insulation and vapor barrier
- total square footage of roof area- 200,000 sq ft
- total cost of installed roof - $3 million (approx)
- total number of G & E Roofing man hours - 50,483 to date
- number of truck loads of roofing materials - 55
- project supervisor (roofing) - Chris Russell
- project foreman (roofing) - Richard Pearl
The project moved forward with a construction method called Integrated Project Delivery (IPD), which when you boil it all down, it simply means that everyone (all subcontractors, design professionals, etc) will share information and resources, working together as a team to complete the project with the highest of quality and safety standards, on or ahead of schedule, within or below budget. And that we did! The project will be completed in excess of 6 months ahead of schedule and below budget, an amazing feat, to say the least.
This truly has been a once in a lifetime experience, one that I wish that we could repeat over and over. My hats off to the entire team, especially to my staff, who in the big picture of this project made us a shining star.
It was in the Fall of 2011 when Mr. Steve Wiley, Senior Project Manager with Robins & Morton, told me face to face, in the back room at the Dine-ah, that we would be the roofing contractor for the project. I could not hold back the tears and actually had to take a minute to regain my composure. It happened by chance that Steve, who took up temporary residence in South China for the past three years, was in having dinner with his family, when he saw me and gave me the great news.
It was Steve and John Scott, Project Manager for HP Cummings, that headed up the entire project for the construction manager. Also special thanks to Rick Albert and John Milbrand of MaineGeneral who oversaw the project for the owner. I don't believe I will ever work for a better team in the years I have remaining in the construction industry.
Here we are, two years later, getting ready to provide world class care to all those in Central Maine.
Make it a great day!
Norm
p.s.- This coming Wednesday night October 23rd marks our 6th anniversary! Watch our Facebook page for specials and giveaways!
