ECMC Medical Building Exterior Improvement and Modernization Work Completed
BUFFALO, NEW YORK—Erie County Medical Center (ECMC) Corporation officials today announced that the exterior enhancement work on the hospital main tower building exterior has been completed as part of an extensive, multi-year improvement and modernization project.
Thomas J. Quatroche Jr., PhD, ECMC President and CEO said, “It was long overdue that ECMC’s 43-year old façade be modernized and match the quality of the care being provided by our frontline caregivers working inside the building. It was an important and strategic investment that will save ECMC financial resources and also improve energy efficiency, eliminate the need for costly repair work and, most importantly, provide greater comfort for our patients.”
ECMC’s exterior enhancement work began in July of 2018 with the start of precast concrete repair and water-repellent coating of the exterior walls to better protect them from the elements and brighten the outer skin of the building. The first new window panel was installed on July 25, 2019. A total of 4,456 new glass panels were installed with the final new window installation taking place today. The new, more energy-efficient and durable glass panels are tinted blue and the new panels above and below the glass panels are also a shade of blue giving the hospital building a more modern appearance.
The window replacement work continued during the COVID-19 pandemic as patients were safely relocated to allow for removal of the old windows/panels and installation of the new panels on every floor of the medical center.
Clark Patterson Lee provided architectural services for the overall exterior improvement project and the contractors involved in the window replacement work included: Gilbane Building Company (construction manager); Sterling Glass Inc. (glass installer); 34 Group, LLC (general contractor); DV Brown & Associates, Inc. (plumbing and heating contractor); and Heritage Contract Flooring (flooring contractor); RW Painting Inc. (exterior paint contractor); and Morris Masonry (precast concrete repair contractor).
On February 22nd, using a 300-ton telescoping crane, the four large letters atop the hospital’s main tower building were taken down from ECMC’s 12th floor roof (200´ above ground) and lowered to the facility’s first floor roof, where the four 14´ x 14´ “ECMC” tower letter cabinets were stored and refurbished. The letter cabinets were refinished and new energy-efficient, color-changing LED lights were installed in the cabinets. On September 19, 2020, when the new window installation work was completed on that section of the tower below where the letters were situated, the upgraded letter cabinets were hoisted back up to the roof and re-attached to the top of the tower building.
Over the past three years, ECMC’s capital improvements included: the building of a new state-of-the-art KeyBank Trauma and Emergency Department; the new main entrance now known as the Russell J. Salvatore Atrium (which opened to the public on Saturday, February 15th); building envelope modernization (including the window replacement and tower letter upgrade); mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems upgrades; and other building interior renovations.
About Erie County Medical Center (ECMC) Corporation: The ECMC Corporation was established as a New York State Public Benefit Corporation and since 2004 has included an advanced academic medical center with 573 inpatient beds, on- and off-campus health centers, more than 30 outpatient specialty care services and Terrace View, a 390-bed long-term care facility. ECMC is Western New York’s only Level 1 Adult Trauma Center, as well as a regional center for burn care, behavioral health services, transplantation, medical oncology and head & neck cancer care, rehabilitation and a major teaching facility for the University at Buffalo. Most ECMC physicians, dentists and pharmacists are dedicated faculty members of the university and/or members of a private practice plan. More Western New York residents are choosing ECMC for exceptional patient care and patient experiences – the difference between healthcare and true care™.