Ambulatory Surgery Center
Precis provided architectural planning, design development, construction documentation, and construction administration services for the design of an 8,900-sf ambulatory surgery center. The project area was located on the ground floor shell space of a recently built three-story office building.
PennVet Utility Master Planning
In an initial project, Precis developed a utility master plan for upgrade of the electrical service and power distribution system for the 700-acre School of Veterinary Medicine New Bolton Center Campus, which is world renowned for its large-animal hospital and research centers. The master plan included options and conceptual design for replacement of the existing campus utility 34kV single circuit with two new redundant 34kV electrical service circuits to the campus from PECO, the local utility company. The plan outlined phased replacement of the existing 4,160-volt electrical distribution, which was then replaced and upgraded to 34kV with a new double-ended 34kV substation with automatic throw-over and a campus-wide 34kV loop. New site underground duct banks for the 34kV distribution were planned for and provided around the entire campus for existing and future connections to individual building substations and large loads. New site underground duct banks for the campus IT systems, including fiber optic trunks, were planned for and provided around the entire campus for existing and future connections to individual buildings and the main data center.
In a subsequent phase of work, Precis performed a complete facilities condition audit for all 45 campus buildings and provided a report compiling all building data, systems information, recommendations, and estimated costs for maintenance upgrades to help the school project maintenance spending over a 10-year period. Precis continues to provide the university with engineering services in support of equipment replacements and system upgrades identified in this report.
Most recently, Precis updated the utility master plan with an enhanced focus on mechanical, plumbing, and fire protection systems in support of, and to resolve, potential conflicts with several major new construction and renovation projects planned for campus.
Aerial photo © Halkin | Mason Photography
Subbio Medical Spa – Expansion + Renovation
Subbio Plastic Surgery & Medical Spa underwent a transformation and expansion into an adjacent 5,000-sf building, featuring a full interior and exterior renovation. Precis provided comprehensive architectural planning and design of the new space. The vision behind the project was to create a bold, modern presence along the busy roadway, making the medical spa an eye-catching landmark while enhancing the client experience within. The project is more than a renovation – it’s a reimagining of the client experience, blending luxury, innovation, and artistry in one exceptional environment.
The one-story structure underwent complete modernization with a full recladding, complemented by the addition of new windows that flood the interior with natural daylight. The dramatic changes revitalized the building’s façade and redefined its identity with a statement of contemporary elegance and sophistication.
Seamlessly integrated with the existing medical facility, the new interior space is designed to feel open, bright and inviting. A reception area welcomes guests with an open layout that allows natural light to flow from multiple directions, enhancing the sense of warmth and tranquility. The design strikes a balance between modern elegance and inviting comfort, incorporating rich wood tones in custom wood slat-wall designs, contrasting with cooler gray hues in a custom poured-epoxy floor and bright white walls. Beyond its function as a state-of-the-art medical spa, the space is an artistic expression of Dr. Subbio – a renowned plastic surgeon in the Philadelphia area and a talented artist. The corridor walls leading to the treatment rooms are painted bright white and designed as a gallery space, featuring track lighting to showcase future custom artwork created by Dr. Subbio. This personal touch brings a unique dimension to the spa, transforming it into both a wellness sanctuary and a creative exhibition.
The expanded medical spa includes three new treatment rooms, three Botox rooms, a massage and facial room, a hyperbaric chamber, and a LED light therapy room. The spa also gained an additional large office area with private offices, open workstations, and a training room for live presentations and webinars.
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia – High Level Disinfection Suite Renovations
Precis provided architecture and engineering design services for renovations to multiple high-level disinfection (HLD) suites in Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). The renovations were required to bring the HLD suites up to current industry standards to reduce cross-contamination during the post-procedure instrument cleaning process.
The scope involved a comprehensive assessment and redesign of the existing spaces to accommodate the latest disinfection technologies and protocols. The project aimed to enhance patient safety by improving the efficiency and reliability of the sterilization process. The layout was optimized to facilitate smooth workflows and provide ample storage space for disinfection supplies. Workstations were designed to support the meticulous handling and tracking of instruments.
ECFMG – Testing Center
Established in 1956, the Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) is a world leader in promoting quality healthcare – serving physicians, members of the medical education and regulatory communities, healthcare consumers, and researchers. Precis designed a new medical student testing center developed in conjunction with CES and ECFMG based on existing testing center locations in Philadelphia. The innovative new testing center, located minutes from the Atlanta airport, integrates three different user groups – staff, students and mock patients – into a cohesive space while being mindful of security and privacy issues for each group.
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia – X-Ray Suite Renovations
The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) called on Precis to support a renovation project that entailed the upgrade of two X-Ray suites on its main campus in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This initiative aimed to enhance the efficiency of the facility’s use and improve patient care.
A key feature of the renovations was the installation of the state-of-the-art Siemens Ysio digital radiography system. This advanced system is equipped with unique automation capabilities designed to streamline patient examinations, making the entire process more efficient and reducing wait times. The new system also ensures that the X-Ray suites are equipped with the latest technology, providing high-quality imaging and better diagnostic capabilities.
The renovations included updated furnishings, improved lighting, and enhanced ergonomic design to create a more comfortable and efficient environment for both patients and healthcare providers. The overall goal of these upgrades was to create spaces that meet current hospital demand while anticipating future technological advancements and patient care needs.
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia – Compounding Pharmacies
Precis was tasked with the design of renovations to multiple compounding pharmacies in five locations for Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). The renovations were required to support compliance with the updated USP 795 Non-Sterile Preparations, USP 797 Sterile Preparations, and USP 800 Hazardous Drugs guidelines.
The renovated pharmacies included three in the Main Hospital, two in the Buerger Center for Advanced Pediatric Care, one in the Wood Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment, one in the King of Prussia Specialty Care & Surgery Center, and one in the Voorhees Specialty Care & Surgery Center.
Pharmacy spaces included sterile low, medium, and high-risk non-hazardous compounding; hazardous drug and gene therapy compounding; non-sterile hazardous compounding; oral compounding; Investigational Drugs Services (IDS) space; and accommodations for Riva robotic IV automation compounding systems.
Ancillary spaces included receiving work rooms with refrigerators, freezers, and pyxis; C2 safe/pyxis areas; quarantine, IV storage, general storage, high-density rolling storage, and high-density automated vertical storage; anesthesia prep work rooms; holding rooms and ante rooms; order entry, office, audit, purchasing, and staff support areas. In the Voorhees facility, the scope also included design of a temporary pharmacy to be used during renovations to the permanent pharmacy.
Riddle Memorial Hospital – Chiller Plant Upgrade
Precis led an in-house team of mechanical engineers for upgrades to Riddle Memorial Hospital’s main central utility plant. Engineering design was preceded by a study of the existing 1,500-ton primary-secondary plant and analysis of return on investment (ROI) for different chiller options.
Key components of the project included an analysis of the hospital’s natural gas and electric tariffs; complete operating energy analysis of the central plant, including mathematical models of upgrade alternatives; and a master plan of upgrades to the hospital’s distribution systems.
Precis designed a replacement chiller and new header system, upgraded pumps, optimized the cooling tower, provided a new free cooling system, and replaced the central plant control system. The solution resolved operational problems that had plagued the hospital since its original construction in 1961.
Temple Health System – Northeastern Hospital Renovation
This project entailed conversion of Northeastern Hospital from a full-service, inpatient hospital to an ambulatory care center. The renovation modified several areas into outpatient clinical space, including renovation and addition of the entry area to include an ADA accessible entrance vestibule, renovation of the emergency room into a combination cardiac/GI suite and a women’s health suite, renovation of existing office space into a pharmacy compounding area meeting current US Pharmacopeia 797 Pharmaceutical Compounding – Sterile Preparations requirements. The project also involved renovations to the pharmacy and office space HVAC systems adjacent to the new compounding suite.
Cardinal Health, Inc. – Facility Upgrade
Precis provided engineering services to Cardinal Health, Inc., covering a 250,000-sf pilot plant, laboratory, central plant, and office facility in Franklin Township, New Jersey. Cardinal Health, Inc. specializes in the distribution of pharmaceuticals and medical products.
Upgrades included multiple cGMP spaces, clean laboratories, a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) vault and cage, and utility enhancements such as a 9 MVA primary electric service at 13.2 kV, a 4,160 V unit substation for a 4,200-ton chiller plant, four 480 V secondary substations, a 750 kW diesel generator, and a 50 kW uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system with automatic transfer switches.
Image © Jonathan Weiss
