The renovation of Hasbro Children’s Hospital, an eight-story facility built in 1994 on the east side of the Rhode Island Hospital campus, involved phased improvements across six floors while maintaining full hospital operations. The project included demolition and reconstruction to upgrade the pediatric ambulatory, emergency department, oncology, administration, surgical, PICU, and inpatient services.

Work throughout the building encompassed new lighting and wayfinding systems, upgraded finishes, new stairwells, bathroom renovations, and reconfiguration of the lobby, pre-and post-operative areas, and nurses’ stations.

Photography: Courtesy of Lifespan

The Ben Mondor Center for Nursing and Health Sciences supports academic and clinical learning with advanced simulation labs, collaborative classrooms, faculty offices, and dedicated research space. Designed by SLAM and built on a logistically complex site within an active campus, the steel-frame facility was delivered on a fast-track schedule in 14 months. The project required extensive coordination and safety planning to ensure efficient execution while supporting Providence College’s expanding healthcare education programs.

Women & Infants is the largest obstetrical facility in Rhode Island, the second largest in New England, and the ninth-largest stand-alone obstetrical service in the country.

The addition to the Birthing Center features 20 labor and delivery rooms, nurse and collaborative workspaces, storage, restrooms, biohazardous and normal trash storage, a staff lounge, locker rooms, and office space for managers and directors. 

Accounting for more than 80 percent of births in Rhode Island, Women & Infants now benefits from a modern facility designed to support staff, doctors, patients, and families aligned with the hospital’s capabilities and reputation.

The ongoing work with Women & Infants builds on a strong relationship developed over several decades. The involvement spans preconstruction and design phases to final finishes, often performed in an occupied hospital requiring special measures to maintain cleanliness and minimize disruption to patients and staff.

Representative projects include a new hospital and Breast Health Center, laboratories for Cytogenetics and Cytology, advanced research labs for reproductive endocrinology, pediatrics, OBGYN, and oncology, and renovations to the emergency room, pharmacy, nurses’ stations, patient rooms, corridors, a “C” section procedure room, and an expanded NICU.

The Kilguss Research Institute was also constructed to support biomedical research in HIV, tuberculosis, breast and cervical cancers, and fertility. The facility features a central core housing cell culture labs, darkrooms, and a vivarium.

Dimeo completed these projects with various architects, including Anshen & Allen & Rothman, Vision 3 Architects, Karlsberger Associates, and the LifeSpan Design Team.

The construction of three temporary hospital facilities across Rhode Island responded to urgent healthcare needs during the COVID-19 crisis. One site involved converting the Rhode Island Convention Center into an alternate hospital with approximately 550 patient beds and support services. Each semi-private bed was equipped with individual electric receptacles and a dedicated oxygen supply. Support areas included registration, nursing stations, testing facilities, pharmacy preparation, and outpatient services. This project demonstrated close coordination with multiple government agencies and rapid mobilization to meet critical timelines.

The fast-track design and construction of the Ambulatory Care Center’s core and shell were managed concurrently with the interior fit-out to meet an aggressive schedule. Located on the University of Connecticut Health Center (UCHC) Farmington Campus and designed by Perkins Eastman, the new facility consolidates clinical programs and support services previously housed in multiple UCHC buildings. The center includes specialty programs such as cancer care, neurology, orthopedics, physical therapy, reproductive health, retail spaces, and clinical faculty offices.

Photography: © Chris Cooper and © Sarah Mechling/Perkins Eastman