The North Colorado Medical Center is a 306-bed, full-service tertiary hospital located in the northeast Colorado region. A 285,500-sq.-ft. addition—the “Second Century Project”—will enable the center to retain its place as the premier healthcare provider serving the region’s needs.

The $63.5-million project presents a fresh image and new front door for the hospital. Inside, a new four-story atrium serves as an organizing element linking the new addition with the existing facility. This, combined with adjacent new lobby space, provides much-needed patient amenities and services, including registration, outpatient pharmacy, visitor dining, water features, and a patient resource center. Vehicle circulation and patient drop-off were improved, as well.

Major components of the North Colorado Medical Center expansion include Surgery, Sterile Processing, ICU, Cardiovascular Care Unit (CVCU), Obstetrics and Nursery Services, Main Entrance, Registration, café, Retail, Pharmacy, Family Waiting, and Support.


The new inpatient beds are unique in providing an acuity-adaptable configuration that allows the same room module to be applied to both critical care and medical/surgical beds. This arrangement provides maximum flexibility in adapting the facility to changing bed and acuity needs. Rooms have also been equipped with patient lifts.

The Women’s and Infant Center was renovated and expanded as part of the facilities enhancement program. The center boasts 16 new 320-sq.-ft., private postpartum rooms, 2 additional LDRs, a well-baby nursery accommodating 14 infants, and a Level IIB NICU with spaces for an on-site pharmacist and neonatologist, which will bring the NICU up to Level III in the future.

Project category: New construction & Remodel/Renovation (completed November 2005)

Chief administrator: Gene O’Hara, CEO, (970) 352-4121

Firm: URS Corporation, (614) 464-4500

Design team: Bill Schubert, AIA, ACHA, Healthcare Programming and Planning; Steve Dietrich, AIA, Healthcare Planning and Design; Randy Kirschner, AIA, Project Manager; Dennis Perry, AIA, Project Architect; Carl Schultz, PE, Lead Mechanical Engineer; John Kish, Electrical Engineer

Photography: Jackie Shumaker Photography

Illustration: URS Corporation

Total building area (sq. ft.): 285,500 (new); 32,650 (renovation)

Construction cost/sq. ft.: $203 (new); $168 (renovation)

Total construction cost (excluding land): $58,000,000 (new); $5,500,000 (renovation)