Hybrid Operating Room Expansion

As surgical programs continue to evolve, healthcare facilities require advanced operating environments that support highly specialized procedures and integrated medical technology. At the Baltimore VA Medical Center, Above Group provided mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineering services for an 8,000 SF Hybrid Operating Room expansion designed to modernize surgical capabilities for veteran patients.

The project converted existing administrative and support space into advanced hybrid operating rooms supporting vascular, neurosurgical, and robotic-assisted procedures. Because hybrid OR environments require precise ventilation, electrical resiliency, and coordinated medical infrastructure, the engineering approach focused on operational reliability, code compliance, and integration with the existing surgical suite.

Key Engineering Features

• Three advanced hybrid operating rooms
• Isolated power and emergency electrical systems
• HVAC systems meeting surgical environment requirements
• Medical gas and surgical support infrastructure
• Integration with existing OR suite systems

Project Challenges

• Renovating adjacent to active surgical operations
• Coordinating complex surgical infrastructure systems
• Integrating new OR systems into existing hospital utilities
• Maintaining operational continuity during phased construction

Results

• Expanded surgical capacity for advanced procedures
• Modernized OR infrastructure and resiliency
• Improved support for robotic-assisted surgery
• Enhanced long-term surgical operations capability