John Pappajohn Pavilion could see $95 million addition

The University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics will hear proposals from project managers to construct two floors on the John Pappajohn Pavilion, a request with a budget of $95 million. Building two floors in addition to the existing eight-story center will add 38,000 square feet to the facility, with the construction budget allotment accounting for $50.4 million. The news was first reported by The Gazette. According to the project summary, the "vertical expansion" will have a 24 bed intensive care unit on the ninth floor and a "mechanical penthouse" on the tenth floor. Levels seven and eight will be renovated as 18 bed postpartum units. Renovation and expansion of the John Pappajohn Pavilion has been authorized in principle by the Board of Regents, as it is an element of the 10-year master plan outlined earlier this year. Proposal applications are due Aug. 23. in the afternoon. RDG Planning & Design has been selected as the design professional for the project and will work closely with the selected construction management firm. The summary shows that UIHC will select 2-5 bid finalists by Aug. 31 and cost proposal interviews will take place Sept. 30. Firms submitting requests for qualification will be evaluated on relevant experience, team experience and qualifications, local market experience and Iowa preference, project understanding and approach, project management and safety. Completion of the schematic design will occur this fall and construction is expected to begin next summer. A flurry of new buildings are expected on the UIHC campus in the next 10 years, including a new hospital tower, a teaching and research building and an ambulatory care building. This in addition to athletics upgrades, like a new $20 million wrestling facility, and construction of a new hospital in North Liberty that could cost up to $525,628,000.