When COVID-19 overwhelmed hospital systems in spring 2020, healthcare infrastructure needed to expand almost instantly. Field hospitals became essential to managing patient surges, but these temporary facilities required fully functional electrical systems built under impossible timelines.
East Coast Power Systems received the call to help construct what would become the largest outdoor hospital facility built in the United States during the pandemic. The project would test every aspect of their emergency response capabilities.
Contact UsThe scope of this emergency project presented obstacles unlike anything the manufacturing team had faced:
Compressed Timeline: A complete electrical power system needed to be designed, manufactured, and installed in 3 to 4 days. Standard projects of similar scale typically require weeks or months.
Critical Infrastructure Requirements: This facility would potentially house critically ill patients. Every component needed to meet hospital-grade reliability standards despite the accelerated schedule.
Pandemic Operating Conditions: The team had to execute this complex build during lockdown conditions. Travel restrictions limited movement. Supply chains faced unprecedented disruption. The entire region had shut down except for essential services.
Emotional Weight: The facility included morgue infrastructure, a sobering reminder of what was at stake. The team worked knowing their electrical systems would support life-saving medical equipment in a time of national crisis.
The project goal was clear: deliver fully operational electrical infrastructure capable of powering a complete hospital facility within days, not weeks. This meant outdoor-rated switchboards, control centers, and distribution equipment that could handle the electrical demands of intensive medical care.
Beyond the technical requirements, the team recognized their role in a larger mission. Healthcare workers needed this facility operational to save lives. Failure was not an option.
Contact UsWe took an all-hands approach to meet the emergency timeline:
Pre-Positioned Inventory: The company had made strategic investments in outdoor electrical equipment inventory. This foresight meant critical components were available immediately rather than waiting weeks for procurement.
24/7 Operations: The team operated around the clock, with personnel sleeping on-site between shifts to eliminate commute time and maximize production hours.
Streamlined Approval Process: Working alongside engineering partners, the manufacturer expedited every step of the design-to-delivery process. Assembly drawings, quality checks, and shipping logistics all moved at emergency speed.
Essential Service Certification: The company secured official designation as an essential service provider, allowing team members to travel through lockdown restrictions. Vehicle placards and law enforcement recognition enabled movement when roads were otherwise empty.
Several factors enabled the team to execute under extreme pressure:
Existing Partnership Network: Strong relationships with construction partners and engineering firms meant seamless coordination despite communication challenges during lockdown.
Cross-Functional Expertise: The team’s ability to handle design, manufacturing, and field installation created efficiency impossible with multiple vendors.
Commitment Culture: Personnel willingness to work extended shifts and sleep on-site reflected the organizational culture needed for emergency response situations.
Inventory Strategy: Prior decisions to maintain robust stock of outdoor electrical equipment proved essential. Without readily available components, meeting the timeline would have been impossible.
The emergency hospital electrical system included:
The manufacturer successfully delivered and installed complete electrical infrastructure for the largest outdoor hospital facility built in the United States during COVID-19. The system went from concept to fully operational in 3 to 4 days, a timeline that would typically require weeks or months for a project of comparable scope. The facility achieved full operational readiness and stood prepared to receive patients, yet it was never given the opportunity to be used throughout the pandemic’s most critical period.
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