Danis-Wise Completes MVHS Comprehensive Cancer Center

On October 3, 2011, Danis Building Construction and Wise Construction Company broke ground on the Miami Valley Hospital South Comprehensive Cancer Center. Danis-Wise Construction LLC is nearly finished with the 93,000-square-foot facility on the MVHS campus.

The Danis-Wise team used innovative and efficient techniques throughout construction — which included building mock-ups to resolve issues and make adjustments pre-construction, as well as conducting regular meetings to discuss safety precautions, power shutdowns and other situations — resulting in an early completion date.
“From the start, Danis-Wise knew this project would require collaboration with our team to keep the hospital’s business running as usual. They also understood the importance of accurate, detailed construction to support the center’s new high-tech equipment,” said Elizabeth Koehler, administrative director of oncology at MVHS.

“They”ve been more than accommodating, and we’re pleased with their thorough, diligent work.”

“Going into this project, we knew it was crucial for the main hospital to stay open throughout construction,” said Danis-Wise project engineer Raven Williams.

“We met with the MVHS directors early in the process to decide how to keep patients, visitors and staff safe during construction. Through our continuous communication efforts, MVHS kept business running as usual. We adjusted our schedule to stay out of their way while still finishing ahead of schedule.”

While the Comprehensive Cancer Center is not physically attached to the main campus, it is close enough that construction noise and safety issues could pose a threat for MVHS” daily operations. Danis worked directly with the building owner’s representative and security to coordinate staff, visitor and patient safety with designated parking and fencing.

When faced with a medical construction project, precision is imperative, which was the case with the MVHS Comprehensive Cancer Center. The building houses one of the most advanced radiation technologies in the medical world: the linear accelerator.

This technology is particularly important for radiation. It requires lasers built into the four walls and ceiling surrounding the isocenter, where patients receive radiation treatment. Lasers must be measured equidistant from each other for radiation to hit the same body areas during a series of treatments. By measuring the lasers at precise distances and constructing eight-feet-thick walls in the room to avoid radiation leakage, the Danis-Wise team accurately installed the lasers which will allow MVHS to best serve its patients.

Due to 60 days of rain and several weeks of permit procedure delays, Danis-Wise decided to accelerate its steel construction to keep the project on schedule. The team overcame its eight-week setback with innovative construction techniques not originally in the plan, such as using a crane and one-sided forming.

Danis-Wise also saved a total of two weeks in the masonry schedule by adding an additional masonry crew to the two existing crews that were working overtime and weekends.

Danis-Wise has a history of going the extra mile and providing the best possible service for its clients. When MVHS hosted its 5k fundraiser that took place during construction, Danis-Wise superintendent Tom Lane spent day and night setting up lights for the course and power for the band. At one point, he even purchased additional last-minute electrical cords to power the event, which turned out to be a great success.

Danis was also asked to help with the MVH Foundation’s New Year’s Eve Gala, which will take place at the new Comprehensive Cancer Center. Not only did Danis accelerate its work schedule to finish for the December 31, 2012 gala, but the team also agreed to help out with night-of logistics, including the New Year’s Eve ball drop, interior arrangements and extensive safety measures.

“We”ve had a great working relationship with the Miami Valley Hospital during the past 14 months and want to show our appreciation by helping out with their New Year’s Eve Gala,” said Lane. “This is one of the Foundation’s largest fundraisers of the year, and we’re excited to do our part to make it extraordinary, just as we’ve done with the new, state-of-the-art Comprehensive Cancer Center.”