The Holy Cross NICU upgrade and expansion was completed with service at top-of-mind. Following our mission “…we are steadfast in serving all, especially those who are poor and vulnerable” and who is more vulnerable than a tiny baby?
The Holy Cross NICU project aimed to increase capacity and service to meet the needs of the local community. In partnership with the design team, the facility developed a plan to relocate several Post Partum services to allow NICU expansion. The NICU was ultimately able to increase from 12 to 18 beds, while modernizing to meet all current code requirements.
The planning for this project started in 2015, with several rounds of feasibility studies being completed. Design started in 2017 and drawings were submitted to HCAI in 2020. The two-year construction started in 2021 and was completed in 3 phases. The planning and timing of construction was critical to have minimal impact on the patient care, as NICU babies are very sensitive to both noise and vibration.
Phase 0 included relocating the NICU babies from the NICU to the temporary NICU constructed in ICU Pavilion C. Phase 1 was the build out of the Post Partum spaces which included a nurse station, exam room, nursery, EVS closet and storage rooms. Phase 2 included the six new NICU beds, two nurse stations, formula prep, medication, clean supply, treatment room, storage, waiting room, and multipurpose room. Start to finish, the entire project took 6 years to complete.
The existing portion of the NICU received upgrades to ensure both the new and old space looks and functions seamlessly. Additionally, the new NICU will offer lifesaving specialized equipment and treatment that previously required patients and families to be transported to another hospital. This project allows Holy Cross to keep more babies close to home and offer the best treatment for the local community.
The project was initially led by Ryan Berry through planning and design phases then transitioned at construction phase to Jamie Robillard. Jamie and her team oversaw the entirety of construction and the delivery of the licensed space. The design team was Boulder Architects, the general contractor was AV Construction, and the Inspections were completed by SBS.
The Grand Opening and Dedication Ceremony was held on August 30th to thank the donors as this project was predominately funded by donations and grants. The event started with a program and blessing of the space and then tours of the new space and services that will be provided. The event was held in between completion of the space and moving in the babies, so everyone could have a chance to see the new NICU! The Holy Cross NICU will transform the service and care that patients and their families receive in this community.
Left to right: Jamie Robillard, Richard Patchett, Robert Ortega, Arrees Akoubian, Ryan Berry, Chad Kaa, Veronica Grimaldi, Mike Wallace