Queen of Peace Hospital, New Prague, MN

Queen of Peace Hospital
Key Issues

PROJECT PROGRAM
The hospital had engaged in multiple renovations over the previous 25 years. The demands had changed and the growing program of outpatient services was poorly addressed.

Ted Lentz of Yanik Companies completed a full facility assessment comparing current departmental and program space to needed spaces and projected requirements.

By developing a comparison of staff requests, experience with previous community hospital projects, references text written by Ken Dickerman, AIA and Bill Rostenberg, AIA - a series of recommendations and priorities were established with the client. These were then priced, and refined to a comprehensive program of addition and renovation.

Each area and department was developed with input and review by the user groups

The program established and priced was developed almost exactly as originally proposed.

SIGNIFICANT COMPONENTS

From the users point of view the significant element was developing a project to a set price and holding that throughout. The owner and architect were committed to the belief that great design does not have to be expensive but that achieving good design requires imagination, attention to detail and experience in healthcare design to achieve results that are code compliant without breaking the budget.

One element of the design that developed after the initial design was the request to add a Helistop on the roof of the addition. This was accomplished by creatively reworking the structure and roof design so that a code compliant, heated, fuel spill draining properly lighted and fire protected raised pad. This was installed without increasing the construction period and for well under the $200,000 price initially cited by some consultant as the low end price. The Helistop has been noted by each of the air ambulance services that use it as the best building mounted Helistop outside of a major medical center.

The major issue facing the Queen of Peace Hospital was the desire to absolutely reuse as much of the existing facility as possible. They did not believe they could replace the surgery suites but were in serious need of enhancing the outpatient surgery.

In addition the administrator of the facility, Sister Jean Juenemann had enticed over 40 specialists to serve as visiting clinicians. They agreed to increase surgery at the Queen of Peace Hospital and see more patients if the out-patient services areas could support this increase.