Axis Construction Celebrates Opening of Modular Expansion of Emergency Department at Catholic Health’s St. Charles Hospital

Axis Construction Corporation, an award-winning leader in conventional and off-site modular commercial construction for the Northeast, joined the ceremonial ribbon cutting for Catholic Health’s St. Charles Hospital’s $10 million Emergency Department (ED) modular expansion, with Ralph Lambert, President & CEO of Axis Construction, taking part in the celebration.

“We’re proud that the modular division of Axis Construction played a critical role in this major facility improvement,” says Lambert. “The schedule acceleration and reduced site impact benefits of modular construction for healthcare enabled St. Charles Hospital to more rapidly meet the emerging medical needs of the communities they serve while at the same time minimizing disruption to ongoing operations.”

The ED expansion provides an additional 4,300 square feet, doubling the size of the previous ED, with 10 more treatment bays and a larger waiting room. The project was constructed using structural steel post and beam assembly, light gauge steel infill, and poured concrete floors to meet fire ratings and to help achieve sound deadening. The ED expansion was built together as a fully-assembled emergency room inside a protected, environmentally-controlled factory to an 85% level of completion. This ensured the precise fit and finish of all features and systems, including all medical gases.

Once off-site construction was completed at the factory, the 12 modules comprising the ED expansion were deconstructed and loaded onto special transport trailers. Because the modules arrived at the site at a very high level of completion, St. Charles Hospital got the schedule acceleration advantages of shorter site installation and reduced finish time, as well as the benefit of less onsite construction activity, which minimized disruption to the hospital campus and the surrounding community. Features include fully automatic glass sliding doors, reflective Thermoplastic Polyolefin (TPO) roof, LED lighting, occupancy sensors, roof top units (RTUs) with economizers, and a fully automated Building Management System (BMS) to reduce energy use. The plumbing system features low-flow motion sensor faucets and toilets.

This new and renovated healthcare space will allow for better patient management of those seeking medically supervised chemical dependency withdrawal and stabilization and rehabilitation services. The $10 million healthcare project was partially funded with a $4.2 million grant from the New York State Facility Transformation program, as well as other funds supported by Catholic Health and philanthropic support.

“St. Charles’ ED expansion will provide an opportunity to better manage patient flow and address the disparate needs of patients seeking emergency care, allowing for the overall higher quality of patient care,” says St. Charles Hospital President James O’Connor.