PARTNERS FOR SHELTER

Partners for Shelter Locals work with contractors to set up temporary hospitals

By / Natalie Bruckner  Photos by Weickert Industries

As hospitals across the country scramble to accommodate the growing number of COVID-19 patients, SMACNA contractors and SMART craftspersons are stepping up at a moment’s notice to help alleviate some of the strain on the system.

In New York, considered to be the epicenter of the pandemic where the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases as of mid-April exceeded 100,000, there are concerns that not enough hospital beds will be available to meet demand.

In an effort to escalate preparedness in the area, temporary hospitals and triage tents (which are used to assign degrees of urgency) have been set up to act as an extension to hospitals’ emergency rooms. But there is a sense of extreme urgency with no time to waste if the country is to tackle the problem.

On March 27, John Weickert III, fifth generation of the family-owned Weickert Industries, received a call to help build one of those triage tents at NYU Winthrop Hospital in Mineola, New York.

“Receiving a call like that in the middle of the pandemic, well, you just don’t even think twice about it,” he says. “I got the call at about 2 p.m. on the Friday, and I was at the hospital at around 4:30 p.m. We came up with a plan, and on Saturday morning we opened up the shop to fabricate the ductwork for the tent, loaded it onto the truck in the afternoon, and installed it that day. It was essential to have air conditioning and heating in place and ready to go before they could open to the public.”

NYU Winthrop Hospital is just one example of the 341 temporary hospitals that are expected to be built across the country in response to the pandemic. NYU Winthrop Hospital, which was originally operating at 511 beds, has been able to increase this number following Governor Andrew Cuomo’s request that hospitals increase their capacity by 50 percent.

Anne Kazel-Wilcox, public relations manager at NYU Winthrop Hospital, says the facility now has two emergency department triage tents. “They were erected in a matter of days,” she says. “The first one was finished early April and the second in mid-April. Each tent is used to help assess and manage those presenting with respiratory symptoms, accommodating overflow to our emergency department.”

In total, the two tents can accommodate around 40 patients.

Weickert was also involved in the second tent, but on a consultancy basis. “The market had gone quiet by that stage, so we were down to a skeleton crew when I got the call that they needed ductwork erected on a second tent,” he says. “I provided guidance and went down to do the balancing to verify the air ducts would have the proper warm or cool air delivery for the comfort of staff and patients.”

Eric Meslin, president and business manager at Local 28 of Metropolitan New York and Long Island, adds that a number of his contractors have been busy working on temporary hospitals across the state to help assist during the pandemic.

“I am extremely proud of the fact that Local 28 sheet metal workers and our contractors have stepped up to utilize their craftsmanship and expertise when called upon,” he says. “There is a great sense of pride knowing that we are doing our part during these chaotic and uncertain times. There are no words to express how we feel knowing that we are helping to flatten the curve of COVID-19.”

He adds that being available and ready to go when called upon by the community is an inherent trait within the sheet metal industry. “There really is no better choice than a union workforce when quality, speed, and safety is a necessity,” Meslin says. “It is a perfect example of labor and management working together for the benefit of all.”

Whether it’s Delta Sheet Metal’s work on the SUNY Old Westbury 1,000-bed temporary hospital, Heritage Mechanical Services assistance on the 1,000 bed Stonybrook University, or CW Sheet Metal who have been working in various locations to increase hospital capacity, sheet metal workers across the state of New York are stepping up to ease the strain on the healthcare system.

For Weickert, being part of something that will benefit healthcare professionals and facilities makes him proud, but it also has a deeper meaning. “My auntie, who is my godmother, is a nurse at NYU Winthrop Hospital and works in the intensive care unit,” he says. “Also, my two children were born in that hospital, so this project is very personal to me.”

Dr. Joseph Greco, senior vice-president and chief of hospital operations at NYU Winthrop, says that while many patients have already been cleared and testing for COVID-19 has now become more readily available—which means fewer ER visits are expected—should the situation change, the triage tents are part of a backup plan to ensure the hospital is now fully prepared.

All across the country there are examples of SMART and SMACNA working together to build these temporary hospitals and supply them with the necessary equipment.

In Boston, Massachusetts, Local 17 member J.C. Cannistraro worked around the clock to turn the Boston Convention &

Exhibition Center into a 1,000-bed field hospital with a stateof-the-art air system in just three days.

In Detroit, Michigan, Local 292 sheet metal workers have been fabricating enclosures at Ford Motor Corp to launch a major effort to manufacture ventilators for hospitals and emergency facilities across the country.

“It’s obviously very easy to sit back and let other people rush to the front lines when a serious crisis arises,” Meslin says. “But when the smoke clears and normalcy has returned, there is great satisfaction knowing you were part of the solution. Local 28 was part of the solution after 9/11, Hurricane Sandy, Puerto Rico’s devastation, and currently this pandemic. We stand ready for the challenges ahead.” ▪

Natalie is an award-winning writer who has worked in the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, the United States, and Canada. She has more than 23 years experience as a journalist, editor, and brand builder, specializing in construction and transportation. When she’s not writing, you will likely find her snowboarding, mountain biking, or climbing mountains with her rescue dog.