University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro Replacement Hospital, Plainsboro, NJ

Princeton HealthCare System selected a 171-acre site in Plainsboro, New Jersey, to locate its new, 636,000-sf, conscientiously designed hospital, the University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro (UMCPP), encompassing a 231-bed curved patient bed tower, a diagnostic and treatment building (D&T), cogeneration plant and administrative building.

The CEO and president’s charge was to build “one of the finest hospitals in the United States.”

To achieve this vision, Syska Hennessy Group engineers delivered many truly innovative and smart solutions, including:

• 100-percent outside air that moves 25 times an hour throughout the hospital’s operating rooms through HEPA filters, creating a clean environment focused on infection control.
• Fitting-out and locating the mechanical room adjacent to the operatory suite, allowing the facility engineers to provide routine maintenance without ever entering the suite itself.
• Helping the architect to design the exterior solar shading to use sunlight optimally throughout the year.
• Sustainable design that eliminated 4,000 annual tons of carbon—a 50-percent carbon footprint reduction—and 20-percent energy cost decrease.
• Eliminating the need for a $10 million electrical substation, substituting it with an $832,000 alternate divided-load solution.
• Engaging the utility company, and collaborating with an independent consultant to review, validate and provide significant financial support to UMCPP for the energy conservation features.

Syska exceeded our client’s vision with a high-performing building through exemplary and forward-thinking design.

Hospital delegates from as far as China and Europe have toured UMCPP to learn about its innovative features.