Cape Fear Valley’s hospital expansion has been awarded the award of Structural Engineers Association of North Carolina (SEA of NC) 2023 Excellence in Structural Engineering, Retrofit/Alterations over $10MM.

As part of Cape Fear Valley Health System’s long-term master plan, this $110 million expansion is a 93,000-sf vertical expansion of two levels (plus a helipad) that adds 92 new beds, enhancing the hospital’s capacity and reducing the emergency department delays. Expected to be completed in February 2024, the project will allow this flagship hospital to provide better healthcare services for the Fayetteville community.

In addition to a strong focus on overcoming structural challenges, Little Diversified Architectural Consulting has focused on a new floor plate and approach to patient rooms/unit layout, the utilization of prefab (walls and bathroom pods) and a bold new exterior.

By implementing a vertical expansion in lieu of demoing and building new, the team lowered the carbon footprint of the building, eliminated the need for additional land use and has allowed the existing building to stay in use during construction.

The Structural Engineers Association of North Carolina (SEA of NC) is a technical organization dedicated to the advancement of the practice of Structural Engineering. Founded in 2008, the statewide organization has chapters based in Asheville, Charlotte, the Triangle and Wilmington.

SEA of NC’s “Excellence in Structural Engineering Awards” program acknowledges outstanding achievement in creative design, technical innovation, best practices and demonstrated contributions to the public and profession.

Project engineer Adam Ralston accepted the award during the SEA of NC 2023 Annual Conference held Sept. 15, 2023, at the Wilmington Convention Center.