How do you renovate a surgical suite while it's in full operation? How do you replace the entire medical gas system with surgeries in progress? How do you complete substantial demolition in a sterile environment? How do you install fire sprinklers in a sterile surgical suite? How do you completely gut and renovate a surgical nurse's station that is in use? How do you replace the flooring, ceilings, lighting, mechanical and electrical infrastructure, and finishes in a sterile surgical corridor that must be available for transport of surgery patients, staff, and equipment? How do you meet all the code requirements? How do you upgrade the finishes of the entire suite while in operation? How do you improve the ventilation? How do you do all of these things, to the satisfaction of surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, facilities' managers, and building officials while meeting strict schedule and budget parameters, all in an environment that is profitable to the architect and contractor?

Answer: You do it as a team.

The most notable aspect of Penrose Hospital Surgical Suite Renovation was the team approach throughout the entire project. In the words of Penrose's director of construction, Bob Fling, "We made the decision on day one to include GE Johnson Construction Company, Olson Plumbing & Heating, Green Electric, and the Penrose's director of facilities, construction manager, industrial hygienist, nursing supervisor, fire marshall, facilities team leaders, and physicians on the team with RTA Architects and Beaudin Ganze Engineering." The team approach allowed for a successful project that was completed on schedule and under budget while the surgery suite maintained operation. During the 10-month surgery renovation project, 806 more surgeries were completed than during the same period the previous year, a 9 percent increase. The entire team, including the contractor, architect, surgery staff, hospital administrators, and facilities staff approached the project cooperatively. All parties of the design team appreciated the other members' particular needs and demands.

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