July 3,2108-
Officials with Kaweah Delta hospital had been considering carrying out a million dollar experiment to build a huge half-size model of the 1969-built Mineral King Wing of the Visalia hospital and subject to a vigorous “shake test” to see if it might withstand an earthquake.
Advised by an engineering firm back in March that it might or might not fare well in such a test- it offered some glimmer of hope Kaweah might continue to use the wing as an acute-care hospital after the state-mandated 2030 deadline.
Kaweah’s board had heard that it might be possible to keep the wing as a hospital, potentially saving millions to build a new medical center. For one thing the old wing had been constructed well.
KPFF engineers found the concrete-built arch frame wing and its several additions – only one of two buildings like it in California – was well-built and it was possible that even without much structural retrofit, could potentially withstand an expected earthquake – as it is!
Only tests would confirm this possibility. Back in March Herbst said “The big news that for the first time the state is willing to listen”.
To convince the state regulator-Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development or OSHPID- Herbst says the engineers proposed the construction of a large model of the building that would be given a good shake to see what happens.But the model would cost $1.3 million and the very same engineers were themselves actually pessimistic it would withstand the experiment.
In recent weeks the board received an update on the surprising idea.
Late last month CEO Gary Herbst reported that on Monday, June 4th, a group from Visalia including Herbst, Doug Leeper, Julieta Moncada, Mike Williams, Nevin House, Bill Kitchen, and Randy Groom (Visalia City Manager), Judd Williams and Luis from KPFF went to Sacramento to meet with the heads of the OSHPD, in addition to a few of their engineers.
“We provided them a brief history up to our failed bond measure in 2016.”That involved a local bond measure – Measure H that sought to raise $327 million of the $550 million to replace the loss of hospital beds due to the state’s tough seismic rules.The bond failed with just 43% of the vote when it required two-thirds.
Apparently OSHPID was unconvinced about the test says Herbst.
“We believe that their general sense of the matter is that they are very unsure that the Mineral King Wing could pass the shake test, and even if it did we have other issues that could prevent us from meeting compliance relative to the NPC (non-structural performance category) requirements in the Mineral King Wing.
This was reviewed with the Community Advisory Council Hospital of the Future group late last week and their general consensus was that we should consider other alternatives, we would end up spending a lot of money for this testing for nothing.”
Asked if the hospital would now give up on the idea and move forward on planning a new tower, Herbst sounded like the seismic test was close to being shelved for now.
“We continue to work with our structural engineering firm and OSHPID to explore all options to preserve as much of the Mineral King Wing as possible while at the same time evaluating multiple options to develop new acute care beds. Performing a seismic test of the Mineral King Wing is still under consideration but OSHPD has suggested we work together to find more timely and cost-effective solutions first. We are currently working to identify a master facility planning firm to assist us and our structural engineers in arraying a full spectrum of options.”