UnityPoint Health Marshalltown South Campus Expansion

Baker Group worked with UnityPoint Health in Marshalltown to update and expand their South Campus. The existing building was a 2-story clinic and surgery center. Baker Group added a 1-story, 25,000 sq. ft. clinic and outpatient facility on one side and a 2-story addition on the other side of the building that included an ED unit, hospital facility, pharmacy, and inpatient and support services unit. They also expanded their energy plant and a stand-alone emergency service building that houses all the emergency vehicles and provides sleeping quarters for their EMT staff. Baker Group also facilitated a small remodel of the clinic rooms in the middle of the hospital which were converted to a rehabilitation space.  

The hospital was an outdated campus that was chopped up with additions and remodels that had been added on over the years. The main goal of the expansion was to move all inpatient care to the new location. The owner’s top priority was budget. They were very conscious of keeping their budget cap firm while maximizing square footage.  

Baker Group was responsible for adding heating/hot water, chilled water, cooling towers, medical gas services, storm piping, drain waste vents, domestic water, a grease inceptor, refrigerant VRF for their emergency services, steam piping, gas piping, duct work (stainless steel and galvanized) supply and return exhaust piping and the entire BAS system was designed by our Automation Business Unit.  

There were three main challenges that Baker Group faced in the construction of the clinic: budget, timing of design vs. construction, and the original building. The client had a very strict budget but did not want to sacrifice any square footage in the project. Baker Group was brought on early in the planning stage with just the floorplans created and several design checkpoints were held to ensure that we were meeting budget and maximizing space. The design plan was not going to be done in time for construction to begin (making the handoff to the contractor more difficult) through strict schedules Baker Group ensured that the handoff went as smoothly as possible to allow for the project to be completed on time. Because this project was adding and updating an existing structure, there were challenges in spacing and working within the constraints of the building.  

Because Baker Group had worked on the original construction of the UnityPoint Marshalltown hospital and maintained a relationship with the owners. When they were ready for the expansion, they were able to call on us to bring in our knowledge of the original building which aided in understanding the existing systems and structure and how to best execute upgrades and additions to the building.