Tehachapi’s New Hospital is Nearly Complete

Back in November 2014, Giroux Glass was contracted by Bernards/Colombo Joint Venture to join the construction team that is, now, nearly finished with building the new $56-million replacement hospital for the Tehachapi Valley Health Care District in Tehachapi, CA.

The approximately 79,000 sq. ft. “critical-access” facility will be the only healthcare facility within a 50-mile radius in Tehachapi, a rural area of Kern County.  Its dire need is just one reason why we’re so eager to wrap up this project in the next couple of months (our estimated completion date is April 1, 2016).

The new hospital sits on a “greenfield site” (undeveloped land) about two miles from the existing 17,000 sq.ft. Tehachapi Hospital, located 40 miles southeast of Bakersfield and 40 miles northwest of Edwards Air Force Base. Constructed in 1956 following the destruction of the original hospital by the 1952 Tehachapi earthquake, the existing hospital fell short of meeting current CA Seismic Safety Standards and the escalating need for larger accommodations.

Stephen Wen Architects designed for the new structure to include space for acute care and outpatient services, including radiology/imaging and clinical laboratory service spaces, a 5-bed obstetrical facility, 16-bed medical surgical patient unit, and an intensive care unit.

Giroux Glass’ scope in the project included an array of interior and exterior products: curtain walls, storefronts, storefront doors, sunshades, automatic doors, ICC-ICU doors, fire-rated systems, fire-rated glass, pass-thru windows, and leaded glass. Materials were supplied by Kawneer, Trulite, Besam, Capitol Door, Smalley, Aluflam, TGP, North American Bullet Proof, Blueline Rentals, Haulaway, C.R. Laurance, Progressive Fastening, Hilti, and Ray-Bar Engineering.

When we were planning for the installation of sunshades around the exterior of the hospital, one surprising factor we needed to account for was the weight of snowfall.  We actually never thought this would happen, but we all thought: what the heck, better to be safe . . . . And, sure enough, it snowed in Tehachapi this month, as shown in the image to the right! Just a fun little project fact.

As with most large construction projects, there are sometimes tough challenges as well as gratifying ones. Some of the most rewarding challenges of this industry I experience as a glazing contractor are the ones like this project, when I get the opportunity to help our customers create a solution for a safer, more efficient, and healthier future.

Thanks for reading! Email [email protected] with any questions or comments you may have pertaining to this post. 

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