CMHS Construction Updates Building a New Community Memorial Hospital Modernizing Ojai Valley Community Hospital

July 2010 CMHS Project Bulletin

GARY K. WILDE President & CEO,
Community Memorial Health System

We hope that you find this building update informative. Our goal is to keep you informed throughout the entire process with these periodic updates.

Many key components to the infrastructure of the new Cancer Center were completed during the months of May and June. Workers finished the final phase of the structural steel framing of the two-story building. While that was occurring, visitors may have noticed a sharp contrast to the building: distinct wood framing in the northeast corner of the site.

That wood framing, construction officials explained, was the formation of the walls for the radiation vault. Once all the concrete was poured, the wood framing was removed. The radiation vaults – with some walls as thick as 8 feet – took nearly 600 yards of concrete and roughly 20 days to complete. In the beginning of June, an additional five days were needed for workers to pour the ceiling and complete the vaults.

The corrugated metal roof decking was completed and the concrete floors between the first and second levels were poured. Construction teams from a variety of trades then began work on the interior mechanical systems including plumbing, electrical, duct work, and the fire sprinkler systems which will continue through July.

The month will also see crews installing interior drywall, as well as roofing and waterproofing the exterior. Work will then begin on installing the window frames and storefront glass. Additionally, site grading and paving will begin on the center’s parking lot.

Construction officials report that the project is moving along as scheduled, and the structure really began to take shape once the exterior framework began in June.

In our last Project Bulletin, we reported that the Environmental Impact Review had been distributed for public and agency comments. We did receive some remarks to the 45-page document that have been received by the City of Ventura, and their staff is now addressing those comments.

We are also working closely with the City to reach the final stages of the street improvements and property exchanges. We are still on track with these elements and expect that this phase will be finalized and approved by mid July.

While we are working with the city, we continue to move through the permit process with the California Office of State Health Planning and Development and anticipate receiving final state approval by late fall. Although there is much going on ‘behind the scenes,’ neighbors and visitors will soon see the demolition of several homes and buildings to the southwest of CMH. Demolition of those structures in the area known as the “triangle” – the parcel of land that encompasses Brent, Cabrillo and Glen streets – will begin around July 15th, and should be completed by the end of the month.

Additionally, site preparation will begin in the fall in the alley way adjacent to the hospital’s loading dock. This first phase will begin with relocating the utilities and will not result in any power interruptions for our neighbors. As a reminder during this time the hospital continues to offer hospital visitors valet parking - free of charge - in the four-story parking structure located near the CMH Emergency Department.

The new 250kW generator was installed, tested, and is up and running. This state-ofthe- art generator with automatic transfer switches replaces the three older models at the hospital.

Located at the back the facility, the generator will handle all of the electrical needs for the hospital and the Continuing Care Center in the case of a power outage. Moreover, the high-tech machine’s life span reaches to 2055, and has additional capacity for growth. This installation completes the first phase of the OVCH remodel and work is now well underway on the second stage – converting the old emergency room into the PACU (Post Anesthesia Care Unit).

To help control construction costs and to get the unit ready for the general contractor, staff at the facility has done preliminary work including the demolition of various walls and flooring, and the removal of outdated electrical and plumbing systems.

As indicated in our last Project Bulletin, we originally thought the PACU would be done by mid July. Due to unforeseen electrical and plumbing issues, and added scope of work it is now scheduled to be done by fall. Once completed, the PACU will feature 600 square feet of space and will be a centrally located recovery unit adjacent to the hospital’s two operating rooms.

Moreover, when the PACU is finished, work will then begin outside of the hospital repaving the entire facility. It was determined the paving should take place only when the PACU construction vehicles are off site. This will be done in stages and is projected to take until the end of the year to complete.

Gary K. Wilde, President & CEO
Community Memorial Health System