VCA Overcomes Complex Plan to Build New Animal Hospital

Photo credit: Murphy Foto Imagery

VCA South Shore (Weymouth) Animal Hospital & 24-Hour Emergency - South Weymouth, Massachusetts

The Challenge
After 30+ years of use, several building additions and countless renovations, VCA’s original Animal Hospital and 24-Hour Emergency center was well beyond its life expectancy and needed a new space. Fortunately, the hospital sat on a large piece of land, and in 2008, VCA decided to build a new facility while the existing hospital continued to serve the community. However, the land was designated as a 200-year flood plain, which presented some design complications.

 

The Solution
With his extensive design and construction knowledge, Charles (serving as project manager) was up for the challenge. After two years of city/state planning and approvals finally secured in 2010, the team broke ground on a new state-of-the-art, 28,000-square-foot facility that added Oncology, Neurology, Dermatology and a dedicated regional Antech Lab in the building.

 

The Numbers

  • Grand Opening: June 2012

  • Hospital Size: 28,000 square feet

  • Pre-Construction Schedule: 27 months

  • Construction Schedule: 24 months

 

Facility Highlights

  • Open reception with dedicated cat and dog waiting

  • 18 exam rooms

  • Four surgeries with six tables on sterile corridor

  • Intensive Care Ward / Critical Care Ward

  • Respiratory and GI ISO Wards

  • Exotics Ward

  • Medical Oncology with I-131 ward

  • Imagining department with MRI, CT and two ultrasound suites

  • Physical therapy with wet and dry treatment

  • Conference center for 75

  • Antech Lab

  • Liquid O2 and duplex medical suction systems

  • Back-up natural gas generator system

Charles Nicholls