A modern approach

Boldt’s recycling program sets new standard

Working on St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison involved dealing with several decades of renovations, but Oscar J. Boldt Construction’s approach to the project was wholly modern.

The Appleton company’s innovative demolition and waste-management plan, which resulted in about 85 percent of site materials being recycled, was used by the city of Madison to develop a city ordinance requiring such programs for all demolition work.

“Boldt has always been environmentally conscious,” said Gus Schultz, project manager for Boldt. “We try to recycle everything we can.”

Schulte said Boldt worked with WasteCap Wisconsin, a nonprofit agency, to develop the program. Habitat for Humanity used many of the old building materials to build Habitat houses and for its ReStore program, where the materials are sold to the public at up to 75 percent off retail price.

Through the recycling plan, Boldt saved the hospital’s owner more than $333,000 during demolition and construction work. Boldt will continue to use the partnership with Habitat for Humanity, Schultz said, during the demolition of the hospital’s old surgery and care center.

In addition to being environmentally conscious, Boldt also made sure it was conscious of the hospital’s patients while constructing St. Mary’s new 240,000-square-foot inpatient building and 180,000-square-foot outpatient building. The company worked right up against the existing building, which was connected to the new construction in several spots.

As a result, the company limited its working hours to disturb patients as little as possible, Schultz said.

“It definitely makes it more difficult,” he said of building on a working hospital, “but you’ve always got to remember the people on the other side of the wall are the patients.

“It could be one of your relatives or anything on the other side of the wall, so you’ve got to make sure you’re paying attention to what’s happening with their existing facilities.”

Schultz said the original hospital structure, built around 1911, had many additions over several decades, which further complicated the project. Construction of a tunnel under the original structure, to connect lower wings on both sides of the hospital, was particularly rough, he said.

“It was definitely a relief when it all got put back together and everything was in good shape,” Schultz said. “You’re working with an old, variable building, and then compromising the foundations of that, so it made it a little nerve-wracking.”

The resulting $105 million complex includes the inpatient building with a 40-bed ambulatory procedure center, 18 surgical sites, a helipad and a skywalk. The outpatient building includes operating rooms and shell space for future radiology and clinic space.

— Caley Meals