Emory University J-Wing Hospital Expansion
Contemporary healthcare extension
Project Facts
| Location | Atlanta, Georgia |
| Owner | Emory University |
| Size | 818,000 SF |
| Cost | $244 million |
| Status | Completed 2016 |
Overview
Walter P Moore provided structural engineering services for the J-Wing hospital expansion at Emory University. Fashioned after the original architecture of the college campus, the project consisted of a 10-story hospital building with 210 inpatient beds, connected by a complex system of striking pedestrian bridges above a 4-story below-grade parking deck. Through a strategically phased construction process we were able to build the entire structure and its connections to neighboring buildings without disrupting the hospital’s functions. The facility now provides Atlanta with a cutting-edge piece of medical infrastructure that delivers high-quality patient care.
Services
Challenges
Excavation
On-site constraints such as the presence of nearby buildings, the extension of the underground parking below the water table, and the presence of spread footings, made excavation, retention, and waterproofing a tricky process.
Bridge Layouts
The engineers had to devise an intricate system of curvilinear pedestrian bridges to connect the J-Wing to multiple different facilities across the campus.
Logistics
The hospital and adjacent parking facilities needed to remain fully operational throughout the construction process, which required careful phasing.
Solutions
Retention Strategies
We introduced a temporary shoring wall to manage soil loads and make the basement watertight during excavation. Using a shoring wall monitoring program also ensured the retention system remained within tolerance for the pile installation process.
Parametric Modeling
Walter P Moore used parametric modeling and optimization algorithms to simplify bridge pathways to produce geometric configurations that minimized material usage and were easy to construct.
Leveraging Phasing Options
We provided the client and contractor with a range of options to build portions of the structure in stages, with the help of temporary support structures.
Results
Resilient Design
Our solutions ensured that the excavation and foundation-laying processes went smoothly, protecting the owner’s interests and ensuring that the basement and lower levels of the building would be flood proof.
Connectivity
The J-Wing’s single and multi-story pedestrian bridges connect to the Emory Clinic, The Emory Hospital, and Winship Cancer Center, among other buildings, ensuring an integrated care experience for patients and staff.
Streamlined Delivery
By working closely with the client and contractor to plan and execute each phase of the construction process, we were able to avoid any stoppages in the operations of the hospital and the parking facilities.
Project Team Leaders
