VA Medical Center-Fort Harrison -Hospital
Helena, MT

The VA needed to know if they should structurally retrofit their existing 35 bed hospital after a 5.8 magnitude seismic event or build a new facility. Their first step was to commission a seismic study of what it would take for their existing facilities to meet current seismic codes. The resulting 750-page report provided the answer. The report documented the scope of deficiencies including the need for major structural retrofit of shear walls and stairwells, as well as numerous non-structural issues. To keep the hospital operating during the required work, a complete phasing plan for keeping patients safe was created along with location of temporary trailers that would be fitted out to match hospital functions as they are displaced during the structural retrofit. The VA now has the tool to decide; retrofit or build a new facility.