Constructing From the Inside Out

Elevator shafts are usually one of the first things to be built – not the last. In order to relocate the Central Sterile Department and consolidate services, three elevator shafts are being added in the middle of Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin Froedtert Hospital. This requires Mortenson’s project team to cut 30-feet by 12-feet holes in the middle of each floor for the elevators and remove concrete beams as they move up. In addition, the interstitial mechanical space on each of these floors needed to be removed and re-supported to allow for this work to occur. The interstitial space, original to the 1970’s era building, creates a second-floor level on each floor with incredible access challenges.

Removal of these massive concrete sections required weeks of behind the scenes work. The project team coordinated with seven inpatient departments to understand their needs and configure them into the construction plan. Additionally, team members ran noise tests to understand what noise levels were acceptable and at what time. Being proactive about noise and vibration testing has allowed Froedtert’s staff to plan ahead and provide better care to their patients.