JE Dunn Construction Co. was the general contractor for the Memorial Hospital North project, the first hospital in northern Colorado Springs.

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The 208,277-square-foot, six-story facility contains patient and emergency care, radiology, six operating rooms, a labor and delivery wing, neonatal department and 89 patient beds. The 82-acre site also includes a central plant and a medical office building. Previously, the closest hospital was a 25-minute drive from the area. “It lessens the burden on the local community, especially now that gas is over $3 a gallon,” Latas says. “It will also create a lot of jobs in the area.

“Memorial Hospital North is a patient-focused facility,” Latas adds. It has holistic features such as warm finishes, natural light, artwork and scenic views. All patient rooms are private and the waiting rooms are family friendly, he says. Also, the hospital hired a top chef from a local resort to run the kitchen. “The hospital is more inviting and friendly,” he explains. “It does not feel like a traditional institutional facility, it has a nice feeling for families. It’s very modern.

“Designed with three elliptical-shaped wings, the facility incorporates views of the city, Black Forest and the mountains, including Pikes Peak,” Latas adds. “Also, the facility incorporates a lot of glass, so sunlight streams in during the day. There is also an accessible rooftop healing garden with native plants and stone formations that replicate the native landscaping around the facility. The hospital’s elliptical design of three connected wings is an efficient design. It helps reduce foot traffic for the hospital staff.”

In October, Colorado Construction magazine gave the company and the project its Gold Hard Hat award in the outstanding public project category, he says. Last year, the project received the JE Dunn Internal Quality Award, which is given to the company’s highest-quality project.

‘Great Experience’
The project experienced a cement shortage in the summer and fall of 2005, Latas says. “It was a busy market time, and the supply went down,” he explains. “We worked around it by coordinating and managing the delivery schedule with our local concrete suppliers.” The shortage did not delay the project, but it was an inconvenience, he adds.

Construction began before the design was finalized for this fast-track project in order to help meet the owner’s goal of opening the hospital ahead of conventional schedules.  

The company used a CAD program to control the layout of the facility. More than 30 subcontractors and suppliers were involved in the project with up to 400 workers on site at one time.

The hospital’s site has room for two additional patient towers and the current tower was designed and built to expand two more floors. The hospital will be prepared to follow through on the expansion if the population continues to grow. “We have seen exceptional growth in the area while we were there,” Latas adds. For example, a Lowe’s and several other retail and grocery stores opened in northern Colorado Springs while the hospital was under construction.