Obstetrics Full Floor Renovation

PROJECT SCOPE

Michuda Construction led the renovation from preconstruction and enabling work through final turnover, coordinating closely with Advocate Health, HED, clinical leadership, facilities personnel, engineers, trade partners, and regulatory authorities.

The project began with an enabling phase that temporarily relocated the active Obstetrics unit to the fifth floor. This carefully planned transition allowed the hospital to maintain uninterrupted maternal and newborn services while the third-floor unit underwent full renovation.

Key elements of the work included:

Patient Care Areas

Construction of 24 private antepartum and postpartum patient rooms with integrated headwalls, medical gases, nurse call, patient monitoring infrastructure, millwork, wall protection, and private toilet and shower rooms.

Newborn Nursery Creation of an 11-bassinet nursery designed to support newborn care while maintaining visibility, security, infection prevention, and efficient staff circulation.

Maternal Fetal Diagnostic Clinic

Development of a five-exam-room diagnostic clinic that consolidates specialized women’s health services within the renovated department.

Clinical Support Spaces

Construction of nurse stations, nourishment areas, clean and soiled utility rooms, medication and equipment storage, staff work areas, offices, conference space, and administrative and on-call accommodations.

MEP and Life-Safety Improvements

Extensive mechanical, electrical, plumbing, medical gas, fire protection, fire alarm, nurse call, low-voltage, and life-safety upgrades were integrated into the existing hospital infrastructure.

Architectural Finishes

Installation of new flooring, ceilings, millwork, wall protection, doors, hardware, lighting, plumbing fixtures, and durable healthcare finishes selected to support infection prevention, maintainability, and the patient experience.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS

Maintaining Continuous Obstetrics Operations

Challenge: Advocate Good Samaritan needed to continue providing maternal and newborn care throughout construction. The existing unit could not simply be taken offline without first establishing a safe, fully functional temporary care environment.

Solution: Michuda coordinated and executed an enabling phase that relocated Obstetrics operations to the fifth floor before major construction began. The transition was planned with hospital leadership, clinical staff, facilities, IT, infection prevention, and life-safety personnel to maintain continuity of care throughout the project.

Construction Within an Active Hospital

Challenge: The renovation occurred within a fully operational acute-care hospital, near sensitive clinical areas and alongside ongoing patient care. Noise, vibration, dust, utility interruptions, material movement, and worker access all required strict control.

Solution: Michuda implemented detailed ICRA and ILSM plans, controlled access routes, negative-air containment, HEPA filtration, real-time workforce credentialing through Michuda Mobile, and carefully scheduled disruptive activities. Daily coordination allowed construction to advance without compromising patient safety or hospital operations.

Complex Existing Conditions

Challenge: Renovating an existing patient floor required the integration of new systems within established structural grids, plumbing stacks, utility pathways, and limited above-ceiling conditions. Work also had the potential to affect occupied spaces above and below the project area.

Solution: Michuda used early field investigation, design-assist coordination, BIM, trade-partner engagement, and detailed shutdown planning to validate existing conditions before installation. Potential conflicts were resolved during preconstruction and coordination rather than becoming costly field disruptions.

Adjacent Clinical Functions

Challenge: Portions of the work were located near active C-section and other sensitive clinical areas where construction noise and vibration could not interfere with patient care.

Solution: Michuda developed work-hour restrictions, enhanced temporary partitions, communication protocols, and advance notices for disruptive activities. Construction sequencing remained flexible so work could be adjusted immediately around clinical needs.

Schedule and Regulatory Coordination

Challenge: The project required alignment among design completion, procurement, construction, commissioning, IDPH inspections, municipal approvals, activation, and patient occupancy.

Solution: Michuda managed the project through collaborative Lean planning, milestone tracking, early procurement, system commissioning, and proactive inspection preparation. The renovated department began accepting patients in early May 2026.

VALUE-ADDED HIGHLIGHTS

Continuity of Care The enabling phase allowed Advocate Good Samaritan to maintain uninterrupted Obstetrics services throughout construction.

Comprehensive Women’s Health Environment The project brought inpatient Obstetrics, newborn care, maternal fetal diagnostics, clinical support, and administrative functions together within a coordinated department.

Operationally Focused Planning Room layouts, support spaces, circulation, nurse stations, utilities, and staff work areas were coordinated around clinical workflow—not simply architectural appearance.

Occupied Healthcare Expertise Michuda’s healthcare construction experience allowed the team to manage infection prevention, life safety, utility shutdowns, logistics, noise, vibration, and regulatory requirements within an active hospital.

Integrated Project Delivery Early collaboration among the owner, design team, constructors, clinical users, and trade partners supported better decision-making, cost alignment, constructability, and schedule control.