Dr. Paul John Calricaraq Center
Bettisworth North Architects hired ABD Engineering & Design for complete acoustical engineering services for the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health (YKHC) Dr. Paul John Calricaraq Center. The Paul John Calricaraq Project (PJCP) took input from local tribal leaders and residents to be sure the community values of sustainability and care were fully realized. YKHC is the principal healthcare organization responsible for the health and wellbeing of some 30,000 Alaska Natives from 58 tribes residing in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta’s 50 villages, as well as Bethel’s 6,000 residents.
The project’s remote location, approximately 50 miles upriver from where the Kuskokwim River flows into Kuskokwim Bay, and 400 air miles West of Anchorage, certainly posed a challenge. ABD’s acoustical engineers conducted our work by teleconference/video-conference and email throughout the project. The location and weather conditions meant long lead times for mechanical equipment, which was a challenge in the design process. ABD analyzed the mechanical noise impact at multiple stages of the design process as each piece of equipment was specified and ordered. Recommendations were updated at each stage to meet the LEED and FGI guidelines.
Along with designing to LEED Silver standards, ABD employed the Federal Guidelines Institute (FGI) guidelines for the design and construction of healthcare facilities, citing six distinct acoustical critera for site exterior noise, acoustic surfaces, room noise levels, performance of interior wall and floor/ceiling constructions, speech privacy, and building vibration.
