Memorial Hermann Hospital

Project Summary:
Location:	Houston, Texas
Lab Functions:	Clinical Services
Project Scope:	15,000 square feet
Architect:	Watkins, Hamilton, Ross Houston, Texas
Laboratory Furnishings and Equipment:	MAX/Lab®; Flexible Furniture System MAX/Mobile®; Instrument Carts Tradition® Inset Steel Casework

In mid-June 2001, Tropical Storm Allison dropped more than three feet of rain over the course of a week, leaving southeast Texas paralyzed—including eight of the city's 30 hospitals. One hospital, Memorial Hermann, was among the hardest hit. The millions of dollars in damage included severe damage to the hospital lab, located in the facility basement.

As a result, Memorial Hermann needed to assemble a temporary lab facility as quickly as possible, with casework that could then be transferred to a new permanent facility. Hamilton MAX/Lab Flexible Furniture System casework fit all of the hospital's requirements. The MAX/Lab 12" Island Cores proved ideal because they can be anchored to the floor without running supports to the ceiling. Further speeding the process was the decision to exclude service lines (for water, vacuums, etc.), allowing for quicker installation. The lab was also outfitted with MAX/Lab Wall Rail Supports, due to both their economical cost and space-conscious design.

Most of the MAX/Lab casework was quickly shipped to Houston in less than a week. Remarkably, all the casework was finished and delivered a full week ahead of schedule.

Memorial Hermann rounded out their casework choices with MAX/Lab instrument carts, adjustable-height tables and accessories, including tack boards and pre-wired, relocatable power strips. On July 19, less than a month after flood waters subsided, Memorial Hermann Hospital opened its temporary lab facility with MAX/Lab casework fully installed. The fast response of Hamilton and its dealer working with all others involved, has saved many thousands of dollars in labwork outsourcing costs and has allowed them to continue serving their patients with minimal interruption.