VBFA recently completed design of the $28 million expansion to the University of Utah Hospital. The expansion is a 100,000 square foot building with three stories above grade and one below. There is a basement mechanical room with custom air handlers that serve the bottom two levels and a penthouse with air handlers serving the top two levels.

The building is a critical care facility with an Emergency Department on the first level, Intensive Care Units on the second level and Post and Pre-Op on the third. The project also included a remodel of the existing third floor to include six new OR suites. The project was challenged to meet the floor-to-floor heights of the existing building but with a deeper structural system, resulting in a shallower ceiling cavity. The project contains several varied mechanical systems including high temperature water heating system, connection to the central chilled water system, extensive utility relocations, custom air handlers, VAV reheat air distribution, medical gases, humidification, and provisions for special decontamination areas.