Archive for September 2013

Five months after opening its doors, our Building Hope expansion is back in the news. Modern Healthcare magazine gave the facility a Design Award of Excellence – the top honor in the magazine’s annual design competition.

The competition’s 76 entries were judged on design excellence, functional utility, flexibility and response to patients and families. The only other entry to receive an Award of Excellence in this year’s competition was Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital. 

Designed by ZGF Architects, the Building Hope expansion provides cancer care, critical care and emergency care. “The award is an honor for us, but more importantly, it’s a direct reflection of Seattle Children’s commitment to innovation, good design and building a hospital for the future,” said Anita Rossen, associate partner with ZGF.

Work started yesterday, Sept. 12, to bury fiber optic cable along portions of NE 50th Street and 44th Avenue NE as we build a computer network linking servers at Seattle Children’s with backup servers in Quincy, Wash.

A trench is being dug along the south median of 50th between the sidewalk and the curb starting at Sand Point Way NE and extending east to 44th Avenue. From there it will extend 150 feet south along the west side of 44th Avenue to the first utility pole.

The streets will remain open to vehicular traffic, but sidewalks will be closed within 50 feet of the work and there is no parking on the side of the street where the work is occurring. The work should take two or three days. Thanks for your patience as we complete this important project.

Safety improvements to Penny Drive are nearly finished. The final step will occur this Sunday, Sept. 8, when workers restripe the crosswalks with a reflective white compound. Prep work, including some grinding, will begin around 1 p.m. Restriping will begin around 5 p.m. and be completed early Monday morning.

The equipment used to apply the compound will generate a small amount of noise – measured at 85 to 90 decibels right at the machine. Two security officers will help with traffic control and address any other issues that arise.

We appreciate your patience while we complete this important project. For any questions or comments, please call 206-987-2030.

This work is a completion of the Penny Drive project.