Case Study : Baylor College of Medicine

Michael E. DeBakey Center for Biomedical Education and Research
Houston, Texas

Project Overview

Challenge

A well-respected College of Medicine has embarked upon a reconstruction project that will meet and surpass all previous technological standards for education and research. Immediately after the completion of the Programming/Needs Assessment Document and prior to commencing with the design, the University experienced a devastating flood, causing extensive damage to the infrastructure and research facilities.

How will the team members respond to the immediate needs of the University?

Response:

The IT&C team was prepared to provide the necessary assistance, supported by the knowledge gained from the recently completed Programming/Needs Assessment.

The initial challenge was to determine the extent of the damage caused by the rising water. The communication systems had been shut down, generators were not functioning, and research projects were destroyed. The "Mouse House," home to 4,000 mice undergoing years of cancer research, had all drowned.

The IT&C team quickly learned that water had entered the conduit and destroyed the cabling systems.

Knowing the infrastructure system, the IT&C team directed the rerouting of cabling. In addition, the team assessed the damage to the switchers and hardware, determining which needed to be replaced and which were salvageable.

The audiovisual equipment was stored in lower levels of the building and was destroyed by the rising water. The IT&C team knew the inventory of equipment in the Medical Complex that was not destroyed and had a precise understanding of the audiovisual requirements in each of the teaching facilities. Using this information, the team was able to see that the re-distribution of the working equipment was made in the optimum fashion. In addition, rental equipment was able to be secured as needed and was introduced into the inventory of equipment at a substantial cost savings to the University.

As a result, the IT&C team became in integral member of the disaster relief effort, expediting the assessment of the damage, directing the redistribution of the cabling systems, and implementing the deployment of the audiovisual systems. The University was able to conduct classes within two months of the disaster.

Members of Bluegate’s Professional Services Division were commissioned to continue the effort for the College of Medicine, with specific immediate attention directed toward the Michael E. DeBakey, M.D. Museum/Library.