Sterile Processing Renovation

Sterile processing operations are critical to maintaining uninterrupted surgical and clinical services within a healthcare facility. At the Togus VA Medical Center, aging Sterile Processing Department (SPD) infrastructure and operational deficiencies required a complete modernization effort — without disrupting daily hospital operations or instrument processing capacity.

Above Group provided multidisciplinary engineering design services for the renovation and expansion of the Sterile Processing Department within Building 200E. Because a complete shutdown of sterile processing operations was not operationally feasible, the project required an innovative phased approach centered around maintaining continuous operations throughout construction.

To support uninterrupted service, Above Group designed a weathertight, elevated, conditioned connection between the existing hospital corridor and an exterior mobile SPS trailer, allowing sterile processing functions to continue while renovations progressed inside the facility. The project also modernized HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and sterilization infrastructure to improve contamination control, workflow efficiency, and long-term operational reliability.

As an SDVOSB engineering firm specializing in federal healthcare infrastructure, Above Group understands the operational complexity of renovating mission-critical healthcare spaces within occupied VA medical campuses.

Client Kindness
[Above Group] worked to incorporate stakeholders’ requests, and provide a thoughtful design closely aligned with the estimated construction cost. They have maintained [the project] schedule, and used their previous experience to accurately reflect review times; no schedule extensions were required. (Department of Veterans Affairs Network Contracting Office (NCO) 1)

Key Engineering Features

• Complete replacement of SPD duct systems and terminal units
• HVAC systems designed for sterile processing pressure relationships and air change requirements
• Conditioned connection corridor to mobile SPS trailer
• Replacement of end-of-life steam sterilizers
• Electrical infrastructure upgrades supporting sterilization equipment
• New domestic water, sanitary, and steam piping systems

Project Challenges

• Maintaining uninterrupted sterile processing operations during construction
• Designing conditioned connectivity to exterior temporary facilities in Maine climate conditions
• Coordinating owner-furnished sterilization equipment with new utility infrastructure
• Meeting stringent SPD contamination control and pressure relationship requirements
• Resolving long-standing operational deficiencies within a constrained existing layout

Results

• Zero interruption to sterile processing operations during construction
• Modernized SPD workflow and expanded operational capacity
• Improved air quality control and contamination management
• Replacement of aging sterilization equipment with modern code-compliant systems
• Expanded support capability for regional VA healthcare facilities and CBOCs