SEATTLE, WA  Lease Crutcher Lewis (Lewis) completes the Meridian Center for Health for Neighborcare Health. The project completion is on-time and under-budget.

The two-story, 45,000-square-foot building was designed by NBBJ. It is a steel and concrete structure with an enclosure that includes masonry, rusting steel, metal panels, cedar siding and soffits, and operable aluminum windows. Lewis was hired at the schematic design phase to collaborate with the owner and design team to maximize Neighborcare Health's program for the facility. Lewis was then able to provide budget certainty at each design milestone.

Early procurement of design-build and design-assist subcontractors allowed Lewis to provide fully coordinated MEP systems through virtual design and construction (VDC) prior to construction documents. Then Lewis modeled walls and ceiling systems to ensure proper sizing and layout. All systems fit within the structure, maximized the volume of useable interior space and were completely detailed prior to commencement of construction.

Construction challenges included the small, confined site immediately adjacent (within 20 feet) of a fully functioning clinic that has been providing services to patients throughout the construction process. The new building will replace this existing structure. Special planning and weekly coordination with multiple service providers located in the health facility ensured a safe and comfortable experience for patients and staff during construction. Also, access to and around the site required Lewis to sequence work, deliveries, and staging while maintaining an aggressive 12-month construction schedule.

Located at North 105th Street and Meridian Avenue North, the Meridian Center for Health will serve at least 14,000 patients. The facility will accommodate Neighborcare Health and partners Valley Cities and Public Health - Seattle, Washington, and King County to create a health care home for patients to receive fully integrated care. Services at the center will include medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy, services for pregnant women and children as well as health and wellness classes.

"This is the largest construction project we've (ever) undertaken," said Annette Neilson, Director of Facilities for Neighborcare Health. " Lease Crutcher Lewis has been a strong partner that understands and supports our goals in this project from preconstruction through completion. With creative problem solving and solid follow-through the Lewis team guided us to the completion of a beautiful, inviting and efficient facility where low-income North Seattle residents will receive the comprehensive service they need to be healthy."

Neighborcare Health also recently hired Lewis for renovations to its Rainier Beach clinic with construction slated to begin in January 2016.