Project Spotlight: Modular Operating Room Ceiling Systems at WellSpan Health

Modular Operating Room Ceiling Systems at WellSpan Health

Healthcare construction is evolving — and projects like the new Surgical Tower at WellSpan Health York Hospital show what's possible when precision engineering and smart prefabrication come together.

The Project

WellSpan Health is building a new Surgical Tower at York Hospital that will house 21 advanced operating rooms, including four hybrid imaging suites designed to support the next generation of surgical care. With a project of this complexity and clinical significance, speed, safety, and coordination across multiple trades aren't just priorities — they're requirements.

The Solution: Prefabricated Modular Ceiling Systems by SLD Technology

To meet the demands of this project, fully prefabricated modular ceiling systems from SLD Technology are being installed throughout the surgical suite. Rather than building ceiling systems in place — a process that can stretch across weeks and create significant scheduling dependencies — SLD's engineered systems are designed to be lifted into position in a matter of hours.

The result is a measurably more efficient construction sequence with fewer on-site coordination challenges and reduced field labor requirements.

Key installation advantages include:

• Faster installation schedules with fewer field dependencies

• Reduced on-site labor requirements

• Improved multi-trade coordination during the construction phase

A Standout Feature: The Walkable Airframe Ceiling System

One of the most significant elements of this installation is SLD Technology's fully walkable Airframe ceiling system, which provides safe, direct access to the interstitial space above each operating room.

In traditional stick-built construction, accessing the space above an OR ceiling requires careful scheduling — work above and work below typically can't happen at the same time. The Airframe system changes that. Construction activities can proceed simultaneously above and below the ceiling plane, which is a meaningful schedule and logistics advantage on a project with 21 rooms to complete.

The long-term benefits are equally important. When the Surgical Tower is operational, the Airframe system allows facilities and engineering teams to access critical infrastructure — mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems — without entering or disrupting an active surgical environment. That means maintenance, inspections, and future upgrades can happen on a facilities team's schedule, not a surgical one.

A Collaborative Team

Projects of this scope require close coordination from design through installation. The WellSpan Health Surgical Tower reflects a strong collaboration between:

• CannonDesign — Architecture and design

• WSP — Engineering

• Pure Project Management, LLC — Project management

• LF Driscoll / Benchmark Construction Company Joint Venture — General contractor

• Maxim Medical Services, Inc. — Installation support

• SLD Technology — Modular ceiling systems

The coordination across this team has been instrumental in final design development and installation, and the project continues to progress.

TKO and SLD Technology

TKO represents SLD Technology across our territory, bringing their integrated ceiling and airflow solutions to hospitals, operating rooms, and critical care environments throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. The WellSpan Health Surgical Tower is a strong example of what these systems make possible in high-stakes healthcare environments.

More to come as this impressive project moves forward.

Interested in what SLD Technology's modular ceiling systems could mean for your next healthcare project? Contact TKO to start the conversation.