Strong partnerships in healthcare construction don’t just happen — they’re forged through trust, collaboration, and a shared commitment to improving patient care. That spirit was on full display recently when Rafael “Raffie” Lee, a Nordic PCL project engineer, toured one of Straub Benioff Medical Center’s most critical environments: the operating department. What made this visit especially meaningful is that Lee herself requested the tour. She wanted to better understand how the OR team operates day-to-day and how ongoing construction activities might be affecting their work. Her goal was straightforward but essential: learn directly from the clinicians so Nordic PCL can better support them.
Guided by Dr. Donald Gaucher, Lee stepped inside the operating department, offering a firsthand look at the fast-paced, highly coordinated environment where Straub’s surgical teams deliver lifesaving care every day. Dr. Gaucher even offered Lee the opportunity to observe a surgery — an invaluable chance to see firsthand how noise and vibration from construction can influence delicate procedures. For a project engineer deeply familiar with the technical side of healthcare construction, seeing the clinical workflow up close offered a meaningful perspective. Understanding how clinicians move, communicate, and depend on their surroundings helps ensure that the spaces Nordic PCL builds truly support the people who use them.
Lee walked away with a deeper appreciation for the OR team’s challenges and a renewed commitment to strengthen communication. The visit sparked discussions about creating a two-way street of coordination — such as flagging days when sensitive procedures are scheduled so Nordic PCL can avoid high-vibration or high-noise construction activities. It’s a simple idea with a big impact: aligning construction with clinical needs to protect patients.
This visit also reflected something bigger: the strength of the relationship between Nordic PCL and the Straub team. Opportunities like this reflect the trust and collaboration that have developed throughout the hospital’s major redevelopment efforts.
Lee's tour came at a pivotal moment in Straub’s transformation. As part of a multiphase campus redevelopment, Nordic PCL is leading the expansion and renovation of the emergency department — one of the project’s most impactful components. Key elements of the work include:
A new 10,600-square-foot emergency room, significantly larger than the current 6,800-square-foot space
Improved patient flow and integration of advanced medical technologies
Flexible, family-centered care areas designed to adapt to evolving needs
A new basement-level Observation Unit to support short-term evaluation and increase capacity
Carefully phased construction to minimize disruption and maintain a seamless patient experience
Raffie’s OR tour wasn’t just a unique experience — it was a reminder of why this work matters. When project engineers and clinical teams understand each other’s worlds, the solutions become smarter, the space becomes more intuitive, and the outcomes become more meaningful. As Nordic PCL continues its work at Straub, moments like this reinforce the value of partnership. They show that building a hospital isn’t just about concrete and steel — it’s about relationships, respect, and a shared mission to support the health of the Hawaii community.