Women’s Imaging Center Renovation

When this Southern California client sought to offer patients a new local women’s imaging center in greater Los Angeles, the need for a neighborhood connection drove its selection of space in an existing commercial office building. The location provided ideal community access in an area where highway travel can be inconvenient. But the conversion to medical space on the first floor required a complex retrofit to meet provider needs, accommodate specialized medical equipment, and comply with state and federal medical regulations.

Gannett Fleming provided mechanical, electrical, and plumbing design to complete the adaptive reuse of 8,000 square feet. Our firm upgraded heating and cooling with an independent variable refrigerant flow unit combined with a dedicated outside air system unit in compliance with California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development requirements for medical facilities. Faced with inadequate electrical service, the team coordinated with the building owner and utility to address the challenge. Upgraded services now accommodate an enhanced HVAC system and the vast electrical loads of the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines and mammography units.

The existing office space provided only two common restrooms, dictating substantial adaptations for plumbing the new imaging center with six water closets, seven lavatories, 13 sinks, and seven floor drains. The team used a ground-penetrating radar system to proactively determine the best points for new plumbing connections and eliminate the need for trenching the entire space to locate existing piping.

Increasing the number of existing utilities had the potential to create constructability issues and tenant disruptions. To avoid construction on every floor, the team designed an exterior addition that matches the building’s façade to house refrigerant lines, medical gases, chilled water lines, and all exhaust and supply ductwork. This sensitive and forward-thinking design contributed to the successful completion of a state-of-the-art community resource.

• Dedicated HVAC system provides required air changes and maintains patient comfort.
• Power service upgrades support operation of MRI machines and mammography units.
• Exterior addition houses mechanical components to avoid interior disruption.

• Full power and mechanical support for MRI machines and mammography units.
• Enhanced health care service options within university medical system.
• Compliance with all state requirements covering health care clinic construction.