HonorHealth Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center

The HonorHealth Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center on the Scottsdale Shea Medical Center campus is renowned throughout the Southwest for its focus on patient-centered cancer care, blending community oncology services, academic medicine and genomic cancer research. The five-phase renovation modernized all four floors of the cancer center and included a significant increase in infusion stations, the relocation and expansion of the pharmacy and the addition of pneumatic tube stations and a dumbwaiter. Ryan also structurally improved the roof system to replace and add air handling equipment.

One of the primary challenges of the project was to safely perform construction activity within a highly-sensitive healthcare environment. With an Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) categorization of Class IV (the highest level of risk), the team needed to put an ICRA plan in place and receive approval before beginning any construction activity—an extra step that had the potential to create delays if not managed proactively. We also needed to create a negative air environment, with constant monitoring of air quality and the use of a monometer and other specialized safety equipment. Anterooms were set up to prevent outflow of dust from construction.

Work within this live healthcare environment also required very skillful coordination of personnel and operations, and the Ryan team worked diligently to relocate staff without disrupting their workflow unnecessarily, with much of the construction taking place on nights and weekends when staff and patients were not present.