Dec 7 2009
To mark the completion of steel-frame construction, the “Topping out” ceremony was celebrated at the University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro (UMPCPP). The building is being constructed to replace the University Medical Center of Princeton.
The “topping out” ceremony is celebrated as a tradition by the steelworkers, and to symbolize good luck, a steel beam with an evergreen tree is raised and fixed at the highest point of the structure.
Barry S. Rabner, CEO and President of Princeton HealthCare System, said that a significant milestone has been reached to create an excellent regional hospital in the country. He wished that the new hospital will able to reach the highest quality of care to its patients just as the steel beam is at the highest point of the structure.
The $447-million hospital has been designed by HOK and RMJM architecture firms to provide highest quality of care and has already earned national recognition for its evidence-based design principles. This new hospital has many sustainable features, which will enhance the health of employees, patients as well as the environment.
Princeton HealthCare System has planned to invest about $60 million for green features in the new hospital and their initiative has received a boost from PSE&G with an incentive package of $7 million. In addition, they have also received a $5.5 million grant and a loan of $1.5 million from the New Jersey utility for their green initiative.
Some of the major green features in the new facility include cogeneration plant, solar shading, solar power, and thermal energy storage. The 4.6 megawatt cogeneration plant is being executed in partnership with a Princeton based power generation company, NRG Energy.. The cogeneration plant will be producing heat as well as electricity from a single fuel source and will be much more efficient than the traditional way of generating electricity and heat separately. The solar shading cladding in the exterior of building will provide natural light for up to 90% of the interior spaces, and at the same time provide shielding to the interior from the sun’s heat, thus reducing the cooling costs substantially.
Solar power for the hospital is being developed in collaboration with NRG Energy and 15 solar panels will be installed in the parking lot of the hospital. The energy generated by the solar panels is enough to power about 30 single family homes. Chilled water is produced and stored at night, which will be used for cooling purposes, and it will also reduce power demand from the grid for the hospital. This thermal energy storage feature will save a significant amount of energy costs for the hospital.
The hospital will have 237 single patient rooms, operating suites, laboratories, ambulatory services, and emergency services. The new facility will be operational in late 2011.
Source: http://www.princetonhcs.org/