The Robley Rex VA Medical Center in Louisville, KY, serves nearly 45,000 veterans annually across a 35-county area in Kentucky and Southern Indiana. Established in 1952, it has evolved into a Complexity Level 1b tertiary care center, offering comprehensive services, including primary care, mental health care, specialty care, and social services. The center employs over 2,000 staff members and includes eight community-based outpatient clinics.
B2 Constructors completed the Upgrade 6 South Steam Reheat project to address noise issues in patient rooms caused by the steam heating system by converting it to a hot water heating system. Key elements included replacing ten reheat coils, demolishing the interior system, demolishing steam and condensate piping, and constructing a new mechanical room on the 7th floor. This involved relocating services from the occupied space and creating new interior spaces with walls, acoustical ceilings, welded seam and vinyl flooring, rubber base, custom shoe molding, metal stud framing, level four finish drywall, paint, doors and hardware, wall protection, lighting, controls, sprinklers, and fire alarms. The mechanical scope added hot water coils, steam and condensate piping, pumps, heat exchangers, a flash tank, an air separator, an expansion tank, and electrical and control systems.
B2 Constructors self-performed the job’s mechanical and interior finish portions, ensuring a seamless integration of the new systems. The project also involved ductwork modifications, new duct connections, and the installation of dampers and airflow control systems. These upgrades have significantly improved heating efficiency and reduced noise levels in patient rooms, enhancing the overall comfort and functionality of the facility. All work was conducted without impeding hospital operations, ensuring continuous care for veterans throughout the construction period.
