Oak Forest Health Center - Pre-Demolition Assessment and Planning

SPC, in collaboration with Cook County Health leadership, undertook comprehensive hazardous materials and environmental assessments for the entire Oak Forest Health Center Campus, which includes over 50 facility buildings. The study aimed to ensure compliance with environmental regulations, such as those from the EPA, OSHA, and IDPH, and to develop detailed planning reports for each facility, including cost estimates for required response actions prior to and during demolition activities.

The project included a hazardous material survey of each building to locate, assess the condition, and estimate the quantities of Asbestos-Containing Materials, Lead-Based Paint Components, and other hazardous materials, including Universal Waste. SPC was also conducting Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments (ESA) across the entire campus, focusing on current and former Underground Storage Tanks (USTs) and other Recognized Environmental Conditions (RECs) identified during the Phase I ESA. The Phase II ESA aimed further to evaluate environmental conditions in the potential future redevelopment area to understand potential impacts during planning efforts.

Based on the findings from the hazardous materials and environmental assessments, SPC developed a planning/survey report and cost estimate for each building. All project activities were meticulously coordinated with Cook County’s internal teams, including the Department of Capital Planning & Policy, Building & Grounds, Infection Control, Life Safety, Senior CCH Management, and select members of affected user groups. This coordination ensured that the project aligned with the County’s operational and safety standards.