Vacuum Pump Plumbing System Helps Garner DBIA National Award for Hospital Project

The Design-Build Institute of America has announced the 2024 National Design-Build Project/Team Award Winners. The Grady Memorial Hospital bed expansion project, located in Atlanta, Georgia, has won in the healthcare facilities category. Overall, features of the project reflect the Design-Build team’s holistic consideration of both patient care and the well-being of the healthcare professionals. The project team included The Beck Group, PF&A and WSP.

A vacuum pump plumbing system was implemented on this project, a solution that eliminates floor penetrations into lower floors. By relocating waste lines to the ceiling instead of below the floor, this innovation prevents leaks and potential contamination of patient rooms on lower floors and provides a more efficient means of identifying and resolving clogs. In addition, installation of patient lifts in every room minimizes the risk of staff injuries by providing a mechanical means of transferring patients, reducing physical strain on healthcare workers and enhancing patient safety.

Merit Award winners will compete for a National Award of Excellence, “Best of” categories and Project of the Year. Merit winners will be recognized and additional winners announced Nov. 7 at DBIA’s Design-Build Conference & Expo Awards Ceremony, which will be held at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, Texas.