News

Pardee plans cancer center in health sciences facility

By Bill Moss, Published: July 6, 2014

Pardee Hospital plans to create a cancer center on the first floor of the new joint health and education building on Sixth Avenue at Oak Street.

News of Pardee's plans came on Monday when the Henderson County Board of Commissioners got an update on the joint building project from John Mitchell, the county's business and community development director, and County Manager Steve Wyatt.
The board also agreed to hire a construction management that would assume the risk of time and cost overruns on the project and also heard that Wingate University had asked for a six-month delay in the occupancy, from January to July of 2016. The board granted the extension.
In an unprecedented agreement, the county, city of Hendersonville, Pardee, BRCC and Wingate have agreed to cooperate in the planning and construction of a $25 million building that is shaping up to be 75,000 square feet on three floors. The five-party agreement gives Pardee the option to lease up to 25,000 square feet. Pardee's Board of Directors in collaboration with administrative managers at UNC Health Care has been planning for use of the space. Pardee plans to consolidate its oncology practices and related services so patients can "access multiple quality cancer services in one location," the hospital said in a statement.
"We are thrilled to announce that the Pardee Board of Directors has approved the planning process for a consolidated cancer center and surgical practice located in the new Health Sciences facility on Sixth Avenue under development with Pardee Hospital, Wingate University, Blue Ridge Community College, Henderson County and the city of Hendersonville," Pardee's statement said. "At the heart of this project is our patients. It simply makes sense for them to be able to access multiple quality cancer services in one location. Our plan is to consolidate Hendersonville Hematology and Oncology at Pardee and the Comprehensive Cancer Center at Pardee plus related cancer support services on the first floor of the three-story facility."
Pardee pointed out that its cancer services have a strong partnership with UNC Health Care, which has a nationally recognized cancer program. Pardee's program is accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer, a designation received by one in four hospitals that treat cancer.

SUBHED
Construction manager carries risk

Wyatt and County Engineer Marcus Jones recommended the hiring of a "construction at risk manager" because of the moving parts, the number of parties and the need to stay within budget and time deadlines. After reviewing offers from construction managers, a team recommended Vannoy Construction, a large firm out of Jefferson, near Boone, that has more than 60 years of construction experience and has managed more than 1,000 projects. Vannoy has built hospitals, schools, university buildings, government buildings, retail centers and factories. It's the contractor for Mission Health's new medical office building at Biltmore Park.
"You're able to establish a guaranteed maximum price, and that way you can control the project," said project architect Chad Roberson. "You're not on the hook for that, that's why they're 'at risk'" if the project goes over budget.
Typically, the construction manager completes preconstruction work for a set fee and then manages the project through construction based on a percentage of the overall cost, Roberson said.
Wyatt said Wingate officials had second thoughts about moving from the university's current leased space on King Street to the new building in the middle of a school year.
"I actually feel pretty good about the fact that they made this decision," he said. "I think this is a good thing. It gives you a little bit of breathing room."
When commissioners asked whether all parties were OK with the delay, Wyatt said they had all agreed.
"The group is working as a team, and all of these decisions are made together," he said. "I don't think anybody is concerned about the time frame other than a sigh of relief perhaps. Everybody is working as a team and it's a beautiful thing."