An adaptive and transformative design in response to the urgent need to free up hospital beds for patients with COVID-19

McCormick Place Convention Center Alternate Care Facility

With COVID-19 sweeping the globe, the City of Chicago Department of Public Health knew they needed to act fast to accommodate the rise in patient admittance. The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in association with the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA) directed the conversion of McCormick Place into an Alternate Care Facility (ACF) for COVID-19 patients.

The ACF was designed to relieve pressure on the hospital system by freeing up beds for more patients with severe COVID-19 cases in anticipation of the surge in positive COVID-19 diagnoses to come. Stantec participated by collaborating on the design of an independent HVAC, electrical, mechanical, and medical gas system. Hall A and Hall C supported 2,250 low-acuity patients and Hall B supported 750 moderate-acuity patients that required oxygen. All three were equipped with nursing stations and support units.

A quick turnaround was made possible with prefabricated design using an aluminum framing and panel system for low-acuity patients and tents for moderate-acuity patients. Our team worked around the clock to complete innovative design concepts within a few days of project initiation. Within one week, the first 500 beds were complete in Hall C with another 1,750 non-acute beds following in Hall A.