105 replies to this topic

[Architect]

mcheiss, on Oct 11 2006, 02:16 PM, said:

Cool photos. Any idea on how big this is going to be?

It is the most expensive public works project in the history of Arkansas - with the exception of the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River navigation project - costing in excess of $200M.

[Aporkalypse]

Architect, on Oct 11 2006, 09:10 PM, said:

It is the most expensive public works project in the history of Arkansas - with the exception of the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River navigation project - costing in excess of $200M.

I think the hospital itself is $120 million but the entire current campus expansion is $200 million.

This needed to be done a long time ago.

Since you are an architect I thought you'd find this interesting, one of my professors told me about this.  I always wondered why the old University Hospital had ledges, I thought it was something utilitarian for washing windows, etc.  The architect actually designed the building without air conditioning or heating vents because he thought the ledges would shade the windows and make air conditioning unnecessary.  That obviously wasn't true.  The same architect designed Stanford's hospital which had the same flaws.  A few years later he won accolades, though, for designing Pepsi's headquarters in New York.

[Architect]

Aporkalypse, on Oct 11 2006, 09:13 PM, said:

I think the hospital itself is $120 million but the entire current campus expansion is $200 million.

This needed to be done a long time ago.

Since you are an architect I thought you'd find this interesting, one of my professors told me about this.  I always wondered why the old University Hospital had ledges, I thought it was something utilitarian for washing windows, etc.  The architect actually designed the building without air conditioning or heating vents because he thought the ledges would shade the windows and make air conditioning unnecessary.  That obviously wasn't true.  The same architect designed Stanford's hospital which had the same flaws.  A few years later he won accolades, though, for designing Pepsi's headquarters in New York.

You are correct - the entire project is $200M, not just the hospital.

There is some truth to what your friend said.  The original architect was Edward Durell Stone, who was a renowned architect.  There was no airconditioning at that time (and I doubt that that was because the architect thought otherwise - probably cost), and the overhands were designed as sunscreens to mitigate heat.  The most interesting thing involved the openings in these concrete overhangs, that were supposedly for helping allow air movement up the facade.  How successful this was is certainly debatable!

[Aporkalypse]

Architect, on Oct 12 2006, 06:58 AM, said:

You are correct - the entire project is $200M, not just the hospital.

There is some truth to what your friend said.  The original architect was Edward Durell Stone, who was a renowned architect.  There was no airconditioning at that time (and I doubt that that was because the architect thought otherwise - probably cost), and the overhands were designed as sunscreens to mitigate heat.  The most interesting thing involved the openings in these concrete overhangs, that were supposedly for helping allow air movement up the facade.  How successful this was is certainly debatable!

The ADG today said the hospital will be $165 million and the total expansion $330 million.

[Architect]

Aporkalypse, on Oct 12 2006, 02:09 PM, said:

The ADG today said the hospital will be $165 million and the total expansion $330 million.

I can confirm the hospital numbers, but the total of $330M is incorrect unless they're throwing in every current and future planned project on campus.  That particular new project is not $330M however you want to add it up!

[Aporkalypse]

Architect, on Oct 12 2006, 07:10 PM, said:

I can confirm the hospital numbers, but the total of $330M is incorrect unless they're throwing in every current and future planned project on campus.  That particular new project is not $330M however you want to add it up!

I'm sure they are throwing in the already nearly completed Residence Halls, the psychiatry building, hospital, and ASH as well as the ACRC expansion.  I thought that was a bit high as well.

[skirby]

A picture of the hospital expansion at UAMS. From their website. Taken in October.

[Aporkalypse]

skirby, on Dec 6 2006, 10:29 AM, said:

A picture of the hospital expansion at UAMS. From their website. Taken in October.

Not much was different a month later at the LSU game.  This kind of project takes quite a while.

[LIT uPP]

The project development section of UAMS’s website has a new front page article that states the bulk of the exterior work on the hospital expansion will be completed by the end of this year, completely changing the look of the campus skyline (from certain angles).

http://www.uams.edu/growing

I walked along the edge of the construction site, today, and noted that quite a bit of the (partially) underground parking deck was complete.  Additionally, several floors of the hospital expansion have risen on the east side of the Ward Tower (to the west of the Ambulatory Care Center building).  You can watch all this construction from four angles by accessing the live cams page.

The article also stated that construction of the 200,000 square foot addition to the cancer center is slated to begin this year.  I will be interested to see the final architectural renderings, as there is not a lot of space to put all that square footage adjacent to the current building.

[Aporkalypse]

Rendering of the expanded ACRC (Arkansas Cancer Research Center) released today.

UAMS named a new director for ACRC today as well.

Where it says "Cancer Institute" it's clearly a hint that it will be renamed from ACRC to the Rockefeller Cancer Institute.  The Rockefellers will make a very large donation contingent on the state matching funding.

Edited by Aporkalypse, 01 March 2007 - 10:47 PM.

[Arkansas Student]

That's a beautiful rendering, IMO. I certainly hope UAMS & the other hospitals in Little Rock succeed in creating the medical mecca they have the potential to become.

[Aporkalypse]

Aporkalypse, on Mar 1 2007, 11:45 PM, said:

Rendering of the expanded ACRC (Arkansas Cancer Research Center) released today.

UAMS named a new director for ACRC today as well.

Where it says "Cancer Institute" it's clearly a hint that it will be renamed from ACRC to the Rockefeller Cancer Institute.  The Rockefellers will make a very large donation contingent on the state matching funding.

The bill to match $50 million in private contributions to expand the ACRC cancer center at UAMS passed both the house and senate and was signed into law by Gov Beebe, meaning this building will be built.  There will also be a $35 million bond issue, making the total cost about $135 million for the expansion.

[turboturtle]

Nice summary in the DOG of all the construction ongoing and future for UAMS campus.  Article stated that they have expanded as far west as they will go.  The are actively buy property for continued eastward expansion.  I hope the get they get the little motel at the corner of Markham and Cedar.

[Aporkalypse]

turboturtle, on Apr 1 2007, 09:30 AM, said:

Nice summary in the DOG of all the construction ongoing and future for UAMS campus.  Article stated that they have expanded as far west as they will go.  The are actively buy property for continued eastward expansion.  I hope the get they get the little motel at the corner of Markham and Cedar.

Yeah, that motel needs to go in the worst way.  I wish they'd bought it and bulldozed it just for the hell of it, it's a scary element in an otherwise good neighborhood.

[Architect]

Aporkalypse, on Apr 1 2007, 09:38 PM, said:

Yeah, that motel needs to go in the worst way.  I wish they'd bought it and bulldozed it just for the hell of it, it's a scary element in an otherwise good neighborhood.

I had heard rumors, more than a year ago, that Walgreens had purchased that hotel for a future location.  I guess that fell through (or was untrue).

[turboturtle]

Architect, on Apr 2 2007, 06:15 AM, said:

I had heard rumors, more than a year ago, that Walgreens had purchased that hotel for a future location.  I guess that fell through (or was untrue).

In addition to the motel property, Walgreens would probably need to purchase some of the residential lots behind the motel.  If they would build up to the sidewalk and put the parking in the back, I could see a Walgreens work there.

[Aporkalypse]

Architect, on Apr 2 2007, 07:15 AM, said:

I had heard rumors, more than a year ago, that Walgreens had purchased that hotel for a future location.  I guess that fell through (or was untrue).

Walgreen's strategy (and CVS's) is to place 24-hour pharmacies near major hospitals.  With UAMS and St Vincent's right there, this really should've been done a long time ago.

Plus, it acts as a convenience store for that part of town.  A part of town without any kind of Wal-Mart or Target.  

Yeah, Walgreen's would make a killing there.

[Aporkalypse]

I missed the article the other day and just caught it but the ADG ran a nice article running down UAMS' current construction.

The campus has grown as far West as it can, now it will have to grow to the East and is acquiring property for future expansion as described above.


I just thought this was a nice synopsis:

Quote

The big cranes are for the $203.9 million, 10-level, 540,000-square-foot hospital expansion on the south side of the campus. The expansion, built around the existing Ward Tower, will include 234 adult beds and 60 neonatal beds initially, with space for growth that would mean a total capacity for 393 private adult patient rooms.

A parking deck also will be built in the area.

The project is to be ready for opening in late 2008.

The Psychiatric Research Institute. A $30 million, fivefloor, 100,000-square-foot facility, will include space for inpatient and outpatient treatment, education, research and administration. It will consolidate a department that is scattered in several locations, serving as many as 1,200 patients daily. It is to open in 2008.

The Arkansas Cancer Research Center expansion. A planned $125 million, 288,000-square-foot expansion will add more space for patient care, research and education programs for the world-recognized center. Construction is expected to start this year just north of the existing building.

Jones Eye Institute Expansion. A $12 million, five-floor, 56,000-square-foot addition that opened in April last year, allowing for the expansion of existing clinical, research and education programs and room to develop new services. It is named the Pat Walker Tower for the Springdale philanthropist whose gift made the project possible.

New residence hall. This is one of the more high-profile projects on the campus because it is right along highly traveled Markham Street. The hall is a $14.6 million, 92,000-squarefoot, 177-unit facility opened to students last August with a mix of traditional dormitory-style rooms with semiprivate baths, one-bedroom apartments and studio apartments.

The hall has not been named yet.

State Hospital. UAMS is providing $24.3 million for construction of a $31.5 million, 148,000-square-foot State Hospital in return for the land where the new residence hall is located. Some existing State Hospital buildings will transfer to UAMS when construction of the new State Hospital is complete in early 2008. Those buildings will then be renovated to house the UAMS College of Health Related Professions, which is currently spread over several on-campus and offcampus locations.

Education Building. A proposed two-story building with about 24,000 square feet that will include 14 conference rooms, two 100-seat classrooms and two 225-seat auditoriums. Construction of the estimated $10 million facility is to begin this year. It is located off the new Hooper Drive.

Site development of Hooper Drive. This is an $8.5 million project that provides improved access to the hospital and UAMS campus. It includes the conversion of Hooper Drive to a four-lane, divided boulevard. Some work also will be done on Shuffield Drive.

UAMS bookstore. A new, larger bookstore opened in 2006 to replace the bookstore in the old student union that was torn down. The $700,00 building contains 4,000 square feet.

West Central Energy Plant. Located on Seventh Street on the southwest edge of the campus, the new $31 million facility will provide utility services to the west side of the campus and portions of the State Hospital. Completion is expected this year. It replaces an old steam plant that also featured a greenhouse where plants could be bought.

[abdintp]

Aporkalypse, on Apr 2 2007, 09:05 AM, said:

Walgreen's strategy (and CVS's) is to place 24-hour pharmacies near major hospitals.  With UAMS and St Vincent's right there, this really should've been done a long time ago.

Plus, it acts as a convenience store for that part of town.  A part of town without any kind of Wal-Mart or Target.  

Yeah, Walgreen's would make a killing there.

Right up the street, at Kavanaugh and Beechwood, is Rhea Drug, there's also the pharmacy at Kroger, and the Walgreen's not that far away at 12th and Fair Park, so much of the pharmaceutical need of the area may be satisfied.  I agree entirely that any sort of convenience store would do well in this area.

[turboturtle]

abdintp, on Apr 11 2007, 05:46 PM, said:

Right up the street, at Kavanaugh and Beechwood, is Rhea Drug, there's also the pharmacy at Kroger, and the Walgreen's not that far away at 12th and Fair Park, so much of the pharmaceutical need of the area may be satisfied.  I agree entirely that any sort of convenience store would do well in this area.

The only condition that would probably give Walgreen's pause is their present location at 12th and Fair Park, which you mentioned.