An important first step in any construction project is determining what kind of ground are you working with. Is it sandy? Will you find a layer of bedrock three feet down? Will we strike oil?

If you were in and around the hospital last week, you may have seen a machine that looks like a well-driller digging down into the ground near the Emergency Department. (Kind of the like the stock photo accompanying this post.) That was our construction management company, HP Cummings, conducting soil borings to get a cross-section of the grounds where the ED expansion will be built.

We’re happy to report that there no surprises found. (although finding oil may have been very profitable!) The ground on which BMH stands is classified as “sandy glacial till,”  which has been part of this region’s landscape since the end of the Ice Age. There will be no challenges on that front when construction begins.

During the last couple of weeks, we’ve talked a lot about the plan for  “safe rooms” in the new ED design. While that conversation continues, we’ve also brought in a consultant to help with the design of the cafe’ space. Lisa May of Foodservice Design LLC, has been specializing in commercial space planning for healthcare, corporate and education operations for 16 years. BMH President and CEO Steve Gordon knew Lisa May’s work from previous career stops, and we’re happy to have her working with us on this project.

We’ll meet in two week to finalize all the elements of the design development package. We just did the same last week for the MRI project; my facilities crew here at BMH met with project manager Dan Smith to review all the specifications for the electrical, mechanical and plumbing to make sure everything is to our liking, right down to details like the type of faucets that get used. (After all, we’re the one who are going to have to do the maintenance.) We already have the town permit to proceed with the MRI phase of the project, so now it’s a matter of getting subcontractor bids and approving them prior to our planned start in mid-July.

- Rob