Children’s Hospital Colorado (CHCO) selected Mortenson to complete the final shell space buildout on the Anschutz campus: the east tower of the 8th floor. This 22,500 SF renovation delivers 25 new patient beds, including 24 private rooms and one dual‑patient sibling room, along with essential staff and family support spaces. Originally slated for a later turnover, Mortenson successfully expedited the schedule per the Owner’s request. The team achieved substantial completion over three weeks ahead of schedule, ensuring CHCO could accommodate an influx of patients when they needed it most.
The project sits in a uniquely sensitive location, fully occupied on all sides: cardiac care patients above on Level 9, and the hospital’s bone marrow transplant (BMT) unit directly below on Level 7. The BMT population represents some of the most extremely vulnerable pediatric cancer patients in the region, placing extraordinary emphasis on infection control, protection measures, and disruption avoidance throughout construction.
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General Contractor/Construction Manager
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Completion Date: December 2025
Schedule: Completed 3+ Weeks Early (Expedited at Owner’s Request)
59 Separate ICRA Containments
13 Phases of Work in BMT Space
600+ AHJ Inspections Completed
8 Hours of Infection Control Training for All Crews Working in BMT Space
Planning Around High‑Risk Conditions
Mortenson partnered with CHCO early in design to optimize the reuse of existing infrastructure, reduce cost, and minimize impacts to patient care. Given the complexities of tying into active hospital MEP and low‑voltage systems, the team completed these integrations with zero unplanned outages.
To support a precise understanding of existing conditions, Mortenson used Lidar and Matterport scanning to develop a highly accurate VDC model, improving coordination and reducing rework in tight, occupied spaces.
Rigorous Infection Control & Multiphase Execution
The vulnerability of BMT patients defined every aspect of the execution plan. Mortenson collaborated intensively with CHCO’s epidemiology, life safety, EVS, and clinical teams for several months to plan underslab plumbing work directly within the BMT unit.
The result was one of the most robust Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) strategies implemented at CHCO, spanning 13 meticulously sequenced phases and informed by a third‑party infection‑control consultant. Flow scheduling guided daily coordination among trade partners, Mortenson’s self‑perform crews, and hospital stakeholders to maintain safety, cleanliness, and uninterrupted clinical operations.
To support this environment, Mortenson implemented site‑specific emergency response plans and conducted regular refreshers with all onsite personnel. This ensured every crew member understood the sensitivities of the work area and the expectations for performing construction in proximity to immune‑compromised patients.
Expedited Delivery in Preparation for Peak Respiratory Season
While the project was already complicated by its proximity to the Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) unit, the team was challenged to accelerate the timeline to support the hospital’s seasonal capacity needs. Per the Owner’s request, Mortenson optimized the construction sequence and daily coordination to finish the buildout over three weeks early. Achieving this milestone demonstrates our team’s commitment to our partners and the pediatric patients they serve.
Stakeholder Integration
The project required active engagement from a broad set of CHCO stakeholder groups, including clinical staff, epidemiology, biomed engineering, IT, compliance, facilities, and PDC. Mortenson, in partnership with the design team, facilitated consistent, structured communication among these groups, enabling clear decision-making and alignment as design and construction progressed.
