As the Mid-South’s only Level 1 trauma center, Regional One Health plays a critical role in emergency care for West Tennessee, East Arkansas, and North Mississippi. But with aging facilities and growing patient volume, hospital leadership needed a clear picture of their infrastructure challenges to guide future investments. A2H led a comprehensive facility condition and seismic risk assessment, evaluating six buildings on the hospital’s main campus in Memphis’ medical district.
Key Assessment Findings
• Aging Infrastructure & Capacity Strain – Most healthcare buildings are designed for a 50-year lifespan, but the ones assessed ranged from 27 to 65 years old. The trauma center itself was built to handle 3,000–4,000 patients annually but now sees over 7,000—far exceeding its original design.
• Seismic Risk in a High-Risk Zone – The campus sits in the New Madrid Seismic Zone, increasing its vulnerability to earthquakes. A2H’s assessment evaluated each building’s ability to withstand a major seismic event while maintaining critical healthcare operations.
• Systems & Structural Deficiencies – Engineers and architects conducted a full evaluation of structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and architectural systems to determine areas of immediate concern.
• Repair vs. Replacement Cost Analysis – A2H’s cost modeling revealed that replacing the buildings would be more cost-effective than extensive renovations. The estimated cost for replacement came in at $820 million, while retrofitting the existing structures would have exceeded $1.1 billion.
Outcome & Next Steps
A2H developed a three-phase replacement plan to help hospital leadership and county officials chart a path forward. The findings are now being used to evaluate funding options and guide decision-making on how to modernize Regional One to meet the region’s long-term healthcare needs.
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Daily Memphian
