Methodist Women’s Hospital NICU Expansion

Omaha, Nebraska

Methodist Women’s Hospital is known as one of the premier hospitals in its region for labor and delivery services. Home to a large Obstetrics and Gynecology practice, and a group of Maternal/Fetal Medicine physicians specializing in high risk pregnancies, Methodist delivers more than 5,000 babies each year and cares for a high number of critically-ill infants. The hospital wanted to increase the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) capacity by 15,000 SF, going from 28 to 51 beds and adding 18 new patient rooms and associated nursing facilities. The project also included the renovation of existing spaces to enhance function. To achieve this, a vertical expansion was selected. Not only did Kiewit have to work directly adjacent to an active NICU, but directly above an active operating room suite and the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) of the building’s East Wing.

Flexibility, ingenuity, and collaboration were the keys to success on this critical community project. To meet the substantial completion deadline, Kiewit carefully phased the work in close coordination with hospital staff. While most projects are built starting from the mechanical rooms and working outward, this project required a reverse approach to accommodate the hospital’s surgery schedule. Kiewit re-sequenced work activities to reduce impact to critical hospital operations without affecting schedule or cost.