In response to an urgent need for more hospital beds during the coronavirus pandemic, AECOM served as Design Builder to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in support of a FEMA mission assignment for a new 1,024-bed Alternate Care Facility (ACF), constructed on the campus of SUNY College at Old Westbury on Long Island.

This integrated design-build project was unique because it was completely fast-tracked, requiring that it be built while it was still being designed. The team leveraged resources from across the country and implemented seamless virtual processes. More than 100 AECOM design professionals and 30+ subcontractors immediately began working in two ten-hour shifts, with a two-hour break between shifts for thorough sanitizing. At peak, more than 500 workers were onsite. Because of our robust onsite safety protocols, our entire workforce avoided COVID infections. The construction effort, led by AECOM Tishman, was completed in only 28 days, with the first 104 beds delivered to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 12 hours ahead of schedule, in only nine days.

In addition to the 1,000+ patient beds, the ACF also includes nurses stations with hand washing sinks, temporary bathrooms and temporary shower facilities, portable laundry facilities, portable medical gas facilities, ice machines, portable medical waste facilities and new mechanical and electrical infrastructure to support all of the patient care facilities.

Awards

  • American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) of New York, 2021 Platinum Engineering Excellence Award, Category B: Building/Technology Systems
  • Society of American Military Engineers (SAME), New York City Post, Civilian Award in recognition of significant contributions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in service to New York City, the State, and the Nation

 

Image by Ian Bentley/AECOM