Hospital renovation project moves one step closer to bid

By STEPH TAHTINEN

Mt. Pleasant News

On Tuesday, the HCHC board of trustees approved the design documents for the outside structure of the new energy center, moving the hospital one step closer to putting the first phase of its renovation project out to bid.

?Today was more the design of the shell and not so much the design of what?s going to go in the building,? said Robb Gardner, HCHC CEO. Plans for the inside of the building ? boilers, electrical equipment, etc. ? still need to be worked on. ?In subsequent months you?ll see that information about the equipment.?

The new energy center will be constructed of insulated pre-cast panels. The side facing the hospital will have brick so that it maintains the same appearance as the rest of the facility.

?I really like their renderings,? said Gardner. ?It?s not only just a pre-cast structure that looks like an energy center. I think this brink and how they?ve extended the walls on the east and west side a little bit gives it a little bit of an architectural feel. It meshes in very nicely with the existing campus, which is very nice.?

The final construction drawings and updated budget for the energy center will be ready for a special board meeting on Oct. 11. The project will go out to bid the next day, with a bid letting scheduled for Nov. 1. Plans are for the board to meet again on Nov. 1 to accept a bid so that contracts can go out.

Before the plans can be finalized, there are some final touches that need to be worked out.

?We?re still working with the city in terms of where the water runoff goes in terms of water retention, so that is still in dialog with the city. It may go to the planning and zoning committee in a week or so,? said Gardner.

They are also still working with the fire department to make sure everything is up to code with the planned building.

Also during Tuesday?s meeting, representatives from Piper Jaffray gave a review of financing for the renovation project.

After sending out details to several local and state banks, Midwest One Bank out of Burlington came back with the lowest interest rate with the best terms. The bank will provide a $12.5 million loan with a fixed interest rate of 2.875 percent. This is pre-payable at any time.

The new energy center is part one of the four-phase hospital renovation project. Total project cost is estimated at $15.6 million and besides the new energy center, the project also includes relocating the facility?s utilities and electrical, adding a new surgery area and enhancing the patient experience in the main outpatient area.

Some proposed plans for the renovation can be seen at HCHC?s 90th anniversary celebration on Sunday, Sept. 25, from 1 to 4 p.m.