Revealing TRIA Orthopaedic Center Rises in Woodbury
With its expansive curved glass curtainwall exterior feature, the new TRIA Orthopaedic Center is eyecatching and inviting. In fact, all eyes will be on it as it opens its doors later this summer along the high-profile corridor of Interstate 94 and Radio Drive in Woodbury, Minnesota.
The innovative new facility will be the third TRIA in the metro and the first in the east metro, complementing a center in Bloomington and a clinic in Maple Grove with a host of features including a walk-in clinic, ambulatory surgery center, full scope orthopedic clinic, and onsite rehabilitation services including PT and hand therapy. At three stories and 94,000 s.f., the high-profile facility is designed and built to fulfill ambitious goals for TRIA, Park Nicollet Health Services and HealthPartners. Kraus-Anderson Project Manager Rachael Oelke provides further insight into the project.
Q: What stage is the project at currently?
RACHAEL OELKE: We are completing the enclosure now installing windows and the three-story curtain wall. We’ve just started painting on first floor today (May 3, 2017) and are finalizing drywall installation on Level 3.
Q: What have been the primary challenges of the project?
RACHAEL OELKE: The wet fall last year delayed our progress by over a month. Also it is a very windy site, and that caused some damage to the temporary enclosure. It’s also a very unique, elegant building design- you can imagine the constructability review and collaboration to act on such a design. Also, we do have three owners/clients on this project, with Park Nicollet, TRIA and HealthPartners. All are longtime relationships with repeat clients. Taking care that all stakeholders are included in decision-making is a high priority.
Q: How has the KA team supported and/or elevated the design work of RSP Architects, and the owners’ goals?
RACHAEL OELKE: The owner and architect had a vision for the project, wanting to make it very open and dynamic. We collaborated on several key areas to realize the design. The exterior enclosure is a great example of that collaboration. It’s a mixture of precast, metal panel and curtain wall. RSP calls the full height curtainwall “the Beacon” because of its distinctive shape.
Q: What are some of the engineering challenges of the Beacon?
RACHAEL OELKE: The three-story curved glass curtainwall features three different radii of curvature. That’s a technical challenge, to install that as one seamless, continuous sweep. Fortunately, the KA team has good experience under our belt, having just completed the HealthPartners Neuroscience building with its undulating curtainwall exterior.
Q: What are some of the other technical highlights?
RACHAEL OELKE: Inside of the glass enclosure is a large soffit that surrounds a catwalk that will contain a custom programmable LED lighting system. The soffit is affectionately referred to as “the whale.” From inside the Beacon, pendant lighting will provide a constellation effect. It’s really an expressive building, inside and out.
Q: Talk about the subcontractor support on this project.
RACHAEL OELKE: We are working with some great partners on this project. Without them pushing and making suggestions and collaborating on details, we wouldn’t be as far along as we are today. They are really what is making this building go up. Harris and Gephart both have been leading the effort; and Olympic Companies also has recently made some big efforts. Everyone is really dedicated to supporting the design vision.
Q: You’ve also had their support in terms of safety goals.
RACHAEL OELKE: Yes, our team is participating in the CHASE Level 3 jobsite safety compliance agreement in partnership with MNOSHA and the AGC. Level 3 is the peak level of participation, designed for industry leaders with a very comprehensive safety and health program. Subcontractor participation and buy in to the program is critical, and our project superintendent, Rob Spah has been instrumental in creating a culture that’s respectful and collaborative, with everybody involved. There’s also an active “See Something, Say Something” understanding with respect to safety on this project.
Q: What is the schedule for turning the building over to the client?
RACHAEL OELKE: Beginning in late August over a period of four weeks, we will turn over first and second floors first, then two weeks later, the third floor.
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