ASHE announced its Vista Award winners in Texas, Colorado, and Georgia, who used teamwork to overcome challenges in three hospital projects. The prestigious awards recognize the importance of working together to optimize the health care physical environment.

The winners of the 2014 Vista Awards are the teams involved with constructing a new tower expansion at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston; the renovation of the Penrose Hospital Emergency Department in Colorado Springs, Colo.; and the operating suite HVAC upgrade project at the South Georgia Medical Center in Valdosta, Ga. The teams won in the categories of new construction, renovation, and infrastructure, respectively.

ASHE will present the awards to the winning teams at the International Summit & Exhibition on Health Facility Planning, Design & Construction held March 16-19 in Orlando, Fla.

New Construction
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston won the award for new construction for its Alkek Tower expansion. The 500,000-square feet, $208 million project added 10 stories to an existing hospital. The team working on the project overcame a multitude of challenges, including using a constrained footprint, building over a working hospital, and even weathering Hurricane Ike. The center has reported an increase in patient satisfaction scores since the expansion.

Renovation
Penrose-St. Francis Health Services, Colorado Springs, Colo.

Penrose-St. Francis Health Services won the Vista Award for its renovation of the Penrose Hospital Emergency Department in Colorado Springs, Colo. The $4 million project came in ahead of schedule and under budget. The remodeling had to be accomplished during a small window of time while allowing the Level 2 Trauma emergency department to function as normal. Waiting room times have decreased since the renovation.

Infrastructure
South Georgia Medical Center, Valdosta, Ga.

The team working to upgrade the HVAC systems in the South Georgia Medical Center operating suite worked to provide proper temperature and humidity levels despite the humid south Georgia climate. The team had limited access and a tight timeline for the project, but created a new HVAC system with setbacks for unoccupied periods. Staff can change temperatures from 72 degrees to 62 degrees in 15 minutes while maintaining humidity below 40 percent. The new system is projected to result in a 25 percent energy reduction while providing the required environment for the operating suite.

ASHE is a personal membership group of the American Hospital Association.