Modular Hospital Solutions

Sinai Hospital Chooses the Modular Solution

By Beth Johnson, Vanguard Modular Building Systems

When additional space at Baltimore’s Sinai Hospital was needed, they turned to a modular solution. Continued growth necessitated quick relocation of four separate administrative groups. The only space available was adjacent to two major patient and employee entrances, as well as the physician parking lot.

To minimize site disruptions, and to fit into the impending time constraints, Sinai Facilities Management turned to modular construction for a quick, quality solution.

The new 9,350sqft structure was planned and erected within 152 days, well in line with the hospital’s timeline. The building conformed to all hospital specifications, including all interior finish work. The building exterior was customized to blend into the existing hospital campus. With future growth of the hospital in mind, the building was placed on a temporary foundation for potential relocation options.

According to John Bond, project coordinator for Sinai Hospital, “Vanguard Modular (a dealer of modular buildings) was able to provide a cost-effective modular solution to our space problems, and was able to work within our specifications and our timelines. All departments have been very pleased with their new offices, and any concerns about quality of a modular building were quickly dispelled.”

Because of the success of this project, the facilities management team chose modular construction for two additional projects: a two-story 22,000 square foot ambulatory psychiatry clinic and a 5,290 square foot adult day care facility. The ambulatory clinic has specialized medical records rooms, secured medication dispensing areas, elevators, large and small group meeting rooms, break rooms and office space.

The adult day care facility, just completed and occupied in September, was put into place after removing and relocating some older modular offices. The exterior of the new structure was finished with the same treatments as the administrative offices and the clinic to blend into the hospital campus. The facility is equipped with meeting rooms, staff offices and administrative space, kitchen/cafeteria area and a large open community area.

Bond noted that all projects have been completed as specified and within the time constraints of the hospital. With the satisfactory completion of the adult day care, Sinai’s facilities management team will now be reviewing all future construction projects to see if a modular solution is feasible.

Beth Johnson is director, marketing for Vanguard Modular Building Systems in Malvern, PA.

Copyright © Modular Building Institute, October 2003.