Hospital board approves contract extension for architect to monitor JFL parking lot construction

ST. CROIX — The territorial hospital board approved a contract extension until December 17 and a $481,634.95 cost increase during a virtual meeting Wednesday for Flad Architects to monitor the construction of a parking lot, storage facilities, and an administration building on a 5-acre lot north of the Governor Juan F. Luis Hospital and Medical Center modular hospital, known as JFL North.

Flad Architects, a national, integrated planning and design firm with offices in 10 cities, is working with the Virgin Islands Government Hospitals and Health Facilities Corporation, known as the territorial hospital board, and the Territorial Hospital Redevelopment Team on architectural and engineering projects to transform the empty lot and replace the hurricane-damaged hospital.

Daryl Smalls, THRT territorial executive director, said the parking lot will have just over 200 parking spaces, while the administrative building will be 10,000 square feet. He said the storage facilities will support JFL North while the demolition of the hospital building commences. “As it is contracted right now, we’re looking at wrapping up this project by the end of this calendar year,” he said. Smalls said the extension of the architectural and engineering services contract through December 17 with Flad Architects was necessary because a contractor to complete the work was not identified until the project was advertised a third time.