Construction
Recent heavy rains slightly affected some aspects of outdoor work, but the Outpatient Care Center remains on schedule for completion in August 2003, according to Leonard Copeland, Project Superintendent for Bovis Lend Lease Inc.

Framing of the walls on the second floor operating room suites and the electrical rough-ins for the ORs should be completed this week. The roof drain connections are being put in place and other exterior work nearing completion involves running the brick facade on the front face of the building, erecting the spandrel arches for the windows on the ground floor, and placing the decorative concrete trimming known as ground-face masonry that resembles granite. Also this week, workers will complete pouring concrete on half of the first floor.

Passing motorists will soon learn more details of the project with the placement of a sign next to the eastbound lanes of Route 250 near the site. The sign will identify the project as the Martha Jefferson Outpatient Care Center and will display the architect's rendering of the completed building, its expected completion date and our project partners. The placement of the sign is part of our communications plan regarding the OCC, and based on traffic studies, it should be effective: on average, 30,000 vehicles drive that stretch of Route 250 each day.

Interiors
The OCC will have a small café off the main lobby, and several staff members are researching ideas for menu, décor and atmosphere. The café will feature light meals and snacks, with an emphasis on healthy selections and fresh ingredients. As much as any other element of the OCC, the café will help set the tone for our patients and visitors of a "warm and inviting" place. In warm weather, café patrons will be able to sit outside on a covered patio with a view to the west. Inside, patrons will be able to sit throughout the lobby, which will be furnished comfortably.

Opposite the café, on the south end of the OCC lobby, will be an education/conference room that will be available for use by a variety of groups, internal and external. Opening onto the welcoming lobby, the conference room will be an ideal location for meetings, group health education classes, and receptions.