Polytech Associates is serving as Architect-of-Record for the 16,000 sf Central Utility Plant, which will supply all utilities to the new hospital and house the Facilities Services Department. The site area for the building is restricted by the adjacent access roadway, new replacement hospital and adjacent office building and parking garage. The restricted site required a modification of Kaiser standards, reduction of the building area and a two-story design. The exterior of the building uses an insulated metal panel and glazing system with a metal rooftop screen for mechanical equipment. The exterior materials, colors and details were required to be compatible with the new hospital and accommodated the Redwood City Design Review requirements within the Kaiser cost model.

Building Information Modeling (BIM) with Revit is being used in the development of the new CUP, a process that has allowed us to build consensus between our design team, Kaiser Permanente, stakeholders, and the General Contractor since the start of the project. Utilizing Building Information Modeling with the Revit model allows us to coordinate with the subcontractors’ detailers to avoid expensive change orders through clash detection. When reviewing subconsultant submittals, we are able to view the building, with its proposed systems, in its entirety. This allows us to review any proposed changes and, more importantly, the impact they will have on the building when a substitution or cost savings is proposed. Utilizing the BIM process substitutions and changes can be evaluated thoroughly, maximizing value for Kaiser Permanente.

The project is located in an OSHPD One area, and was given approval by the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development in August, 2011. The Central Utility Plant was also reviewed and approved by Redwood City Planning Department. Construction on the Central Utility Plant began in August 2011, and is slated for on-time, on-budget completion in 2014.