Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit

Group Eight Engineering provided all mechanical and electrical engineering services for the newly renovated, $3.5 million, 20,000 ft², Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit at the McMaster University Medical Centre, which was completed October 2000. The project was the recipient of the 2004 ICU Design Citation Award which is co-sponsored by the Society of Critical Care Medicine, The American Association of Critical Care Nurses and the American Institute of Architects Academy on Architecture for Health. The work included design, specifications and general site review.

The existing Ward was demolished and reworked to become a new 47 bed, Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit with two additional support areas. The work was carried out in phases.

A new HVAC system was designed to meet high occupancy and heavy equipment loads with special consideration to controlling ambient noise. A draft-free environment was accomplished with custom air diffusers. Three isolation rooms have individual positive and negative air pressure controls.

Particular attention was paid to the illumination design. Other electrical systems that were designed included power distribution, fire alarm, paging, intercom, CCTV, security, and Nurse call.