When the Veteran's Association (VA) wanted to add a state-of-the-art MRI diagnostic suite to its facility in Prescott, AZ, the MedBuild team had the unique challenge of matching the exterior of the existing historical designated VA building dating back to 1889 and installing radio frequency shielding for the MRI unit's temperature-sensitive magnet. The project was successfully completed within 158 days.

The new Diagnostic Imaging (MRI) building addition, measuring 14' x 50', was attached to the existing hospital building and placed 10' feet high off grade and approximately 15' feet from an existing VA building, creating an exterior second floor for imaging.

A bridge was built from the newly created exit/entrance from a second floor window that was enlarged. Since the existing building was a historical designated building, the exterior of the new building had to match the existing building - including the bridge and the skirting from grade to building.

A steel and concrete component was placed on poured pier columns approximately 10 feet off the ground and 15 feet out from existing VA designated Historical building. A window on the existing building was removed to create a passageway with a covered continuous bridge linking the MRI Suite to the existing VA building. Throughout the projected importance was placed on matching the new modular MRI suite to the existing VA building due to the historical status of existing building.

A roof hatch was designed for access to the inside of the building for the MRI magnet to be installed with a crane. The timeline for installation of the magnet was of clearly defined importance due to the fact that the magnet needed to be chilled. If the process for installation of the magnet took too long the magnet would have needed to be stored and chilled at a great expense ($25,000 a month) if not completed immediately.

To protect the temperature sensitive MRI magnet, RF (Radio Frequency) Shielding was installed in the building at the factory. Craning was used to place the singlewide 14' x 50' building on top of poured pier columns with rebar, along with the magnet at the same time. Electrical was brought to the new building from 75 feet away, going through the existing building and mortuary.