OSF St. Francis Center for Health — Peoria, Ill.

Development Team
OWNER: OSF - Saint Francis Health System, Peoria, Ill.
OWNER'S REPRESENTATIVE/DEVELOPER: The Hammes Co., Brookfield, Wis.
GENERAL CONTRACTOR: M.A. Mortenson Co., Chicago
ARCHITECT AND ENGINEER: Cannon Design, Chicago
FF&E, FURNISHINGS AND ARTWORK: Spellman Brady & Co., St. Louis
CIVIL ENGINEERING DESIGN: Daily & Associates Engineers, Peoria, Ill.
LANDSCAPING DESIGN: Douglas Hills Associates, Evanston, Ill.
ARCHITECT (MEDICAL OFFICE BUILDING): Architectural Design Group, Peoria, Ill.
ENGINEER (MEDICAL OFFICE BUILDING): Randolph & Associates, Peoria, Ill.

The 136,000-sq.-ft. OSF Saint Francis Center for Health is a multi-use facility with six outpatient operating rooms, floor dedicated to women's health, radiology department, non-emergency prompt care facility and four-story medical office building.

The outpatient surgical suites include digital imaging technology, rather than traditional X-rays, and voice-activated equipment. Computers throughout the building allow for instant readouts of patient charts.

The facility is a brick building with large windows and reportedly the largest medical project in Peoria, Ill., since the mid-1980s.

Cold Weather Work

Much of the foundation work was done in the winter because the excavation began in December. Concrete blankets and some concrete admixtures were used.

Although the project start was on time, changes and the complicated curved courtyard pushed a great deal of the brick enclosure also into winter months.

The mason used Morgan Tower scaffolds with work platform that went up as the work progressed. The Chicago office of M. A. Mortenson Co., the general contractor, built a temporary enclosure that went up with the working platform and provided gas heaters to keep the mortar sufficiently warm to cure, despite the freezing temperatures outside.

Another challenge was that the second-floor women's center underwent redesign, and drawings were issued in late January. Ductwork was redesigned, walls were moved and room functions were changed.

The base building construction progress was much further along than the second floor when the changes were received, but with extra attention, micromanaged trade flow and a little overtime, the building was substantially complete in July.

The jury said, "Health care design can become so machine-like. This project keeps the humanistic elements, which make it very pleasing to the eye. It is inviting, warm. It doesn't feel cold. It feels institutional, but in a warm way."

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