Batson-Cook Construction recently celebrated the topping-out of its $195-million Northside Hospital Cherokee project – the largest healthcare project in the firm’s 100-year history.  More than 500 people attended the event, which included awards, prizes, tours, and lunch.

“Since breaking ground in early 2013, the team has moved 500,000 cubic yards of dirt to prepare this 50-acre site for construction.  They have erected 508 tons of steel and poured 700,000 cubic feet of concrete in order to bring the structure to the milestone we celebrate today,” said Denny Godwin, project executive for Batson-Cook. “Today is about congratulating them on this achievement, and thanking them for their dedication to this project and the skill and passion they bring to this jobsite every day.”

At the peak of construction, about 1,000 workers will be on the jobsite.  A number of LEAN construction principles are being utilized on this project, and 3D modeling is facilitating the coordination of mechanical, electrical and plumbing infrastructure. Completion is scheduled for January 2017.

The new 525,000-square-foot replacement facility will include a 96-bed hospital, a medical office building, and parking deck with 900 spaces.  It will replace Northside’s existing 200,000-square-foot, 96-bed hospital on Hospital Road and enable the healthcare provider to better serve the growing population in and around Canton.

“It is interesting to note that the construction of our largest hospital project ever has coincided with our 100^th anniversary,” said Randy Hall, president and CEO of the general contracting firm.  “Our reputation for integrity and passion won us our first job with Northside in 1968 – the original hospital in Sandy Springs – and we have delivered more than 60 projects to the healthcare giant since then. It is very rewarding to be building such a significant project with this long-time client as we begin our second century in business.”

Batson-Cook and the joint venture architectural firms of HRD/HDR worked with Northside Hospital for more than two years during the preconstruction phase of the project, resulting in an enhanced project scope with a cost savings of more than $27 million.