Operating Rooms + Support Space Renovation
Guidon partnered with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to modernize surgical environments at the St. Louis VA Hospital through a multi-phase renovation effort on the fourth floor of Building 1 at the John Cochran Division. These projects create flexible, high-performance operating rooms and support spaces designed to meet today’s surgical standards and enhance the experience for both providers and patients.
Phase 4 focused on reconfiguring four existing operating rooms into three advanced spaces:
A hybrid OR equipped for real-time imaging during operations
A cytology procedure room
A general operating room
The project also modernized the clean core and shared support spaces serving the entire surgical wing, improving workflow, sterility, and efficiency.
Building on the success of Phase 4, Phase 5 renovated six existing operating rooms into five specialized suites, including two general operating rooms, an orthopedic OR, a cardiology OR, and a neurological OR. One of these rooms was designed specifically for cardiology and open-heart surgeries, complete with a dedicated equipment storage room.
New work included updates across all major systems: finishes, infection prevention measures, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, medical gas, and low-voltage systems. Existing air handling units on the fifth floor were replaced with a single new air handling unit to improve performance and reliability. Each OR was outfitted with a Prefabricated Modular Ceiling System for the Operating Room. The Modular Ceiling System integrates critical utilities such as lighting, HVAC, medical gas, and structural supports into a coordinated and efficient surgical space.
The most significant challenge throughout both phases was maintaining active surgical operations during construction. With adjacent operating rooms and the clean core remaining in use, careful sequencing and infection control measures were essential to ensure safety and continuity of care.
Together, Phases 4 and 5 represent more than $11 million in surgical modernization, a major step forward in enhancing the VA’s ability to deliver state-of-the-art care to veterans in the St. Louis region.