Miami Children’s Hospital

GCI played a crucial role in enhancing the hurricane resilience of Miami Children’s Hospital, now known as Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. Our comprehensive hospital hurricane risk analysis of the building envelope systems revealed critical vulnerabilities in the facility’s exterior construction, which dated back to the mid-1980s.

The assessment, conducted in collaboration with HKS Architects, uncovered that the hospital was unsafe at wind speeds associated with Category 2 hurricanes – a common occurrence in southern Florida. Overall, this finding was alarming given the hospital’s vital role in providing specialized pediatric care unavailable elsewhere in the region.

Our expert analysis and recommendations laid the groundwork for a state-of-the-art retrofit that dramatically improved the hospital’s resilience. The renovation involved encapsulating the three-story structure in pre-molded panels of glass fiber-reinforced concrete, creating a protective cocoon around the hospital. Additionally, the building had impact-resistant windows and a strengthened roof installed, enabling it to withstand winds of up to 200 miles per hour.

GCI Consultant’s recommendations laid the groundwork for a retrofit that dramatically improved the hospital’s resilience. The renovation involved the following:

• Encapsulating the three-story structure in pre-molded panels of glass fiber-reinforced concrete, creating a protective cocoon around the hospital.
• Installing impact-resistance hurricane-rated windows and a strengthened roof.

Significantly, government agencies recognized this project, with both the Climate Resilience Toolkit and FEMA featuring case studies of the transformation. These acknowledgments underscore the critical importance of thorough building envelope hurricane risk analyses for healthcare facilities in hurricane-prone regions. Ultimately, by fortifying the hospital against severe weather events, the project helped ensure continuity of care for children. Finally, this improvement eliminated the need for potentially dangerous evacuations or facility closures during hurricane events.

For expert building envelope consulting and hurricane risk analysis for your healthcare facility, don’t hesitate to contact GCI Consultants. Our team’s dedication to enhancing building resilience can help protect your critical infrastructure and the communities you serve.