WPI Awarded 2010 Outstanding Project of the Year Award for Work on New Salem Hospital Patient Care Tower

 In May 2009, the new seven story 350,000 square foot Salem Hospital Patient Care Tower opened to the public.  This critical-care medical facility offers the latest innovations in healthcare.  Included in this building are expanded emergency room and imaging department facilities.  State of the art surgery and interventional suites including critical care areas for patients with cancer, coronary issues, traumatic injuries, and other serious concerns are now available to area residents at this new facility. 

One of the original goals of this project was to create a comfortable, healing environment which welcomed patient families and embraced nature.  Additional goals included creating a hospital which utilized the latest cutting edge medical technology while still keeping an eye on budgetary constraints.

Unique architectural features of the building helped create a welcoming and peaceful environment.  Features include a large expanse of glass in the main lobby which draws in abundant natural light and outdoor views.  Additional details include four and half miles of elaborate soffits which were framed, hung, and finished by the talented craftsmen at WPI.  The new center of the medical campus is connected by a series of sky bridges to the Family Birthing Center, the Community Outpatient Medicine Building, as well as the old hospital. This allows patients to be safely moved between facilities as needed.

WPI's scope of work on this project included framing all twelve miles of interior and exterior walls as well as soffit and ceiling framing.  Additionally, WPI installed sheathing, acoustical ceilings, fireproofing, water & air barriers, Venetian plaster, and over 1.6 million square feet of drywall.  WPI also helped install a comprehensive radiation protection system which included over 20,000 square feet of lead-shielded drywall.  As part of this system, WPI installed lead sheets laminated to plywood, and bare sheet lead which was used to provide radiation shielding around penetrations for piping, ducts, electrical conduits, and equipment supports.

For their excellent interior work completed on this project, WPI was awarded the 2010 Outstanding Project of the Year Award in the Oregon Commercial Interior category by the Northwest Wall & Ceiling Bureau.  WPI employees are proud to have played a pivotal role in the construction of this modern and high quality medical building.  The finished product is a gleaming new high-tech medical facility that serves as the hub of activities at the Salem Hospital campus.