General Building Data

• Building Name: St. Joseph Hospital of Orange Patient Care Center & Facility Service Building
• Building Location: 1100 W Stewart Dr., Orange, CA 92868
• Building Occupant Name: St. Joseph Health System
• Building Function: Patient Care Center with surgical operating rooms (Hospital)
• Size: 252,712 square feet
• Number of stories above grade / total levels: 4 stories plus basement and 82’-0” tall at lowest grade elevation
• Dates of construction: March 2004 – August 2007
• Actual cost information: $130 million
• Project delivery method: Guaranteed Maximum Price

Project Team

• Owner:  St. Joseph Health System
• Architect: NBBJ
• Civil Engineer: KPFF Consulting Engineers Los Angeles
• Construction Services: McCarthy Building Companies INC.
• Equipment: Technology Foundations INC.
• Graphics: NBBJ
• Interior Design: NBBJ
• Structural Engineer: KPFF Consulting Engineers Los Angeles
• Mechanical Engineer: Syska & Hennessy INC.
• Electrical Engineer: Syska & Hennessy INC.
• Low Voltage Consultant: Davis Design
• Acoustical Consultant: Martin Newson and Associates
• Security Consultant: Diversified Security Systems

Architecture

Description

St. Joseph Hospital of Orange Patient Care Center & Facility Service Building is built within the Saint Joseph Hospital Campus serving the healthcare needs of the Orange county community. The Patient Care Center is linked to the main hospital through an underground tunnel to further serve the patients’ needs. The patient care center consists of two towers joined together with a central courtyard.

The Patient Care Center consists of operating rooms to expand the surgical capacity of the main hospital. Operating rooms are equipped with latest innovative technology and medical equipment. To help further serve the main hospital, the Patient Care Center also has additional room for incoming patients and rooms for patients requiring intensive care.

The Patient Care Center has a central sterile plant located on the basement level with all the MEP equipment. The first level of the hospital consists of surgical rooms, administrative rooms and the lobby.  The upper floors are separated by the central courtyard.  The west side consists of patient rooms and the east side consists of intensive care units. The remaining mechanical equipment is located on the roof level.

Structural braced frames are accentuated through exterior glazing.  Exterior glazing also has an etched inspirational message from one of the hospital’s highly recognized founders that is viewable to incoming patients. Typical floor to floor height is 12’-0” to 15’-0” while the first floor is 18’-0”.

Applicable Codes

• Title 21, Part 1, California Code of Regulations, 2001 California Building Standards Administrative Codes
• 1997 Uniform Building Code and 2001 California Amendments
• 1999 National Electrical Code and 2001 California Amendments
• 2000 Uniform Mechanical Code and 2001 California Amendments
• 2000 Uniform Plumbing Code and 2001 California Amendments
• 2000 Uniform Fire Code and 2001 California Amendments
• Title 19, California Code of Regulations, Public Safety, Div. 1, State Fire Marshal Regulations
• National Fire Protection Association 101, Life Safety code 1997 Edition
• National Fire Protection Association 99, Health Care Facilities, 1999 Edition

Zoning

Under the Planning Act of the State of California the zoning map of Orange, CA classifies the project site as a Public Institution District.

Fig1. Satellite location of the Patient Care Center

Building Envelope

The building envelope was a key element to the Patient Care Center. It assembles modern style architecture but also projects an effective inspirational message through the tempered glass curtain wall. There are also precast panels located on the lower level of the Care Center, which illustrates a base to an “inspirational piece of scripture.”

Structural steel cross bracing is also illustrated though the exterior glazing curtain wall, while being framed top and bottom with aluminum panels. The obstructive mechanical equipment on the roof is screened by aluminum panels that express a fine vertical ending to architecture and message revealed throughout the building. The west tower is bookend at the courtyard with a precast concrete wall that rises 14’-7” from the aluminum screen on the roof.

There is a primary roof system of the Care Center which consists of concrete on steel decking. The Care Center uses two roof decking configurations, both use 3” decking but concrete thicknesses of 6” and 4.5”. Both configurations provide a 2 hour fire rating and use R-30 isocyanurate insulation board. To further keep the water out, a protection mat is laid on top of the insulation then covered with gravel ballast.  

Primary Engineering Systems

Structural System

Floor Framing

There are minor variations to the floor framing through the Patient Care Center. The typical floor system is a composite steel framing using lightweight concrete and a total thickness of 6¼”, 3” composite deck is used with 5” long, ¾”diameter shear studs for composite action. The typical infill beam is a W16x31, 30’-0” long spaced at 10’-0” on center, which frame onto a W24x68 30’-0” long. Variations from the typical floor system are based on the use of the space. Light weight concrete was used in the typical steel deck configuration to reduce shear and overturning moment during seismic events.

Fig2. Typical 30’-0”x30’-0” bay located on Levels 2, 3 and 4

First floor

The floor framing plan on the first floor differs from the rest due to different loading criterion used. Typical infill members used are W18x35 framing into W24x68 girders. Composite steel framing is used with normal weight concrete and a total thickness of 7½”, 3” composite deck with 5” long, ¾“ diameter shear studs.

Second floor

There is a central courtyard which is supported by the second floor framing system. Due to the high loading W21x111 infill beams are used which frame into W30x148. A composite steel framing system is also used with normal weight concrete and a total thickness of 9”, 3” composite deck with 5” long, ¾“ diameter shear studs.

Roof

Due to the location of air handling units on the roof, members with a higher loading capacity are required. Therefore the member sizes change to a W18x40 for beams and W24x84 for girders. A 9” composite steel system exists similar to the second floor courtyard but covered with rigid insulation.

Lateral Resisting System

The lateral system consists of 6 sets of braced frames located both along the N-S and E-W planes. It ranges from 2 bays to as long as 6 bays framing vertically to the roof of the structure. These braces are supported by shear walls at basement level. The braced frames are typically X-bracing while a whole set running E-W is diagonally braced. Both configurations are considered concentrically braced frames. X-Braced frames are a TS shaped with a gusset plate slipped in and welded. The gusset plate is then welded onto the column and beam, allowing the brace to buckle out of plane to dissipate energy at time of an earthquake.  While diagonally braced member consists of a W Shape section which has its web and flanges welded to a plate which are all then welded onto the gusset plate. The plates attached to the flange are slipped in the gusset plate and welded. 

Fig3. Diagonal Brace Connection Detail

Fig4. X Brace Connection Detail

Foundation System

Gravity columns at the basement level are supported by concrete footings. These footings range depth from 1’-6” to 3’-6” and their size ranges from 2’-0”x2’-0” to 16’-0”x16’-0”.  While the shear walls are supported by continuous deep footings typically 5’-0” deep and 7’-0” wide from each face of the wall. The majority of the foundation is considered shallow as advised by the geotechnical engineer.  While the main entrance canopy is supported by piles capes each connected to 4 piles.

Columns

There are two columns sets per gridline intersection which are usually spliced at 5’-0” from the Level 2. Typical columns sizes are W14x99 on the upper levels (Level 2 to Roof); while the lower columns are W14x145 or W14x132 depending on location and there loadings. Columns existing in the braced frame are usually W14x145 except the end columns which are W14x211 on the top and W14x311 at the bottom. These columns have greater strength capacities due to the excess axial tension and compression they carry from the bracing system induced moment.

Connections

Beams and Girders are typically connected to each other using bolted connections on the beams with steel plates and welded on the girder. The gravity girders have similar connections to the columns, where a shear plate is welded on the column flange.

Electrical
Incoming electrical service to the hospital is at 12000V, 2000kVA to the substations. The hospital is fed through 4 substations, 2 of which are regular and 2 emergency. These substations further use a primary selective system for added service reliability due to cable trouble. The substation then transforms the electrical power to 480/277V, 3 Phase, 4 wire system which is transformed to the panels throughout the hospital. A range of 45kVA to 300kVA transformers are then located on each floor which then takes the electrical power to 208/120V.

Lighting
Multifunction light fixtures exist throughout the patient rooms which consist of 6 fluorescent and an incandescent light. These lights are independently controlled depending on the situation (examination, reading light, ambient light and nurse night light). Recessed Lights are used in the surgical rooms consisting of a 32W triple tube compact fluorescent lamp. Recessed compact fluorescent down lights are used in waiting rooms. While corridors use wall mounted up lights consisting of two 32W compact fluorescent lamps. The hospital is equipped with photo cells located on the roof which controls the hospital dimming system.

Mechanical

The Patient Care Center is equipped with 8 air handling units located on the roof. Air handling units supply 36,000 to 70,000 CFM. Due to the clean air requirements the hospital is equipped with 2 unfired clean steam generators that humidify the air supply. To meet the patient’s comfort each room is equipped with a terminal air unit that is self controllable.  Since the Patient Care Center is located on a hospital campus, chilled water and steam is supplied from the main campus chiller and steam generator; used to condition the water supply.

Fire Protection
The building is equipped with an automatic fire sprinkler system that complies with UFC standards. There are fire extinguishers within 75 foot of travel distance for each 6000 square foot. All of the exit doors are operable from the inside without the use of key which ensures exit for all occupants during fires. Exit signs exist throughout the building that are internally illuminated and supplied with two separate power sources.

Transportation
A canopy exists at the main entrance to the building which leads into the lobby.  There are two public elevators located at the lobby which are used for guests. There are two patient elevators located on the south middle end of the building which transport patients from the operating rooms to their private rooms. These elevators are capable of carrying 4500 pounds. In the same location there are 2 staff and service elevators which are capable of carrying 6000(patient) and 5,000(service) pounds.

Telecommunications
The Patient Care Center is equipped with a wireless paging system, and an intercom system that insures an effective call for nurses doctors where needed.

Special systems
The Patient Care center is also a central sterile facility which is located on the basement level. Special equipments are required to insure an effective sterilization process.