VCA West LA Animal Hospital Completes Challenging Renovation

Photo credit: Murphy Foto Imagery

VCA West LA Animal Hospital and 24-Hour Emergency - Los Angeles, California

The Challenge
VCA’s first and flagship hospital needed a new home, and in 2011 after a four-year search, they found a suitable 43,000-square-foot, three-story office building with parking for 300+ on five levels. Even more ideal, it was only one block away. The renovation itself, however, would prove to be both extensive and challenging.

 

The Solution
The renovation included upgrading all utilities and HVAC systems, rebuilding two elevators, and adding a third oversized gurney elevator for medical use. Building a linear accelerator (LINAC) vault on the ground floor required removing the second-floor deck, pouring concrete vault walls with a ceiling of 1” thick steel plates 31” thick, then rebuilding the second floor (and that was the easy part!).

 

The main challenge was facilitating how clients would enter and interact with the building. The existing entry was off the street with only one door leading to the parking structure. With the LINAC, MRI and CT needing installation on the ground floor, we had to move reception, exam rooms and ER/treatment to the second floor so we added a grand entry and stair tower—giving clients and their pets safe access from the parking structure and away from the street.

 

The Numbers

  • Grand Opening March 2013

  • Hospital Size: 43,000 square feet

  • Pre-Construction Schedule: 15 months

  • Construction Schedule: 11 months

 

Facility Highlights

  • Open reception with cat and dog waiting and open air waiting balcony

  • 22 exam rooms

  • ER and Outpatient treatment with dedicated surgery suite and x-ray

  • Nine surgery suites (two with HEPA) on sterile corridor

  • Intensive care ward

  • EMG / NCV Testing suite

  • Radiation Oncology with linear accelerator

  • Medical Oncology with Bone Marrow Aspirate and I-131 ward

  • Imagining department with MRI, CT and three ultrasound suites

  • Physical therapy with wet and dry treatment

  • Conference center for 80

  • Duplex oxygen generators and duplex medical suction systems

  • Back-up diesel generator system

Charles Nicholls