When Hurricane Sandy hit the East Coast in 2012, several New York and New Jersey facilities — including Jersey City Medical Center (JCMC) — were affected both physically and operationally by the subsequent flood waters. As a result, JCMC received Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation funding to construct a new flood mitigation system around the hospital to protect it from a 500-year flood event.
Recently, JCMC’s Wilzig Hospital completed a $36 million floodproof effort, working with Conti Federal Infrastructure, LLC — a joint venture between Conti Federal Services, Inc. and Conti Enterprises, Inc. Construction took place over two years without interrupting the hospital’s operations, while ensuring the healthcare institution is safeguarded from future flood events.
The micro-resiliency floodproofing project at JCMC involved construction of 1,500-feet of flood walls around the facility, including 500-feet of deployable barriers and 1,000 feet of concrete barriers. The project also included interior reinforced-waterproofed walls, flood gates, doors and glass, temporary access stairs for when flooding occurs, and underground pump stations.
The project presented unique challenges because the heavily trafficked urban facility had to remain open and fully operational 24/7 during the construction process.
Early stakeholder engagement was part of the Conti strategy for success; team collaboration allowed for the development of a 10-phase implementation plan that would ensure seamless continuity of the trauma center. Conti utilized its proprietary Warrior Lean® construction management system to proactively navigate the project’s numerous complexities.
“When disaster strikes, our hospitals are on the front lines. Protecting them is critical,” said Pat Hogan, Conti Federal Vice President and Project Executive. “This micro-resiliency project exemplifies a proactive and cost-effective approach to safeguarding critical assets against the uncertainties of tomorrow.”
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