BBI Construction is gearing up to begin construction on a portion of the improvements to the medical facilities at San Quentin State Prison. Award was recently received of the "Sick Call Units, East / West Rotundas" which was bid in late December. The scope of work for the $2.3 million dollar project involves the construction of two, new infirmary/medication dispensary "sick call" units at the junctions of the east, south and west cell blocks of the prison. Currently there is one, centralized infirmary which services the entire prison population as required on a daily basis. This requires the movement of a large portion of the population throughout the facility. The purpose of the new sick call units is to provide inmates more efficient and controllable access to required medical services. Each unit consists of three exam rooms and a medications dispensary. With an inmate population in excess of five thousand there is a never ending need for medical exams and medications.

While modest in total overall square footage of new construction, the project is complicated in that portions of the new work are outside the prison walls and portions are within the secure lock down areas of the prison rotundas. Work actually involves cutting two eight feet by ten foot openings in the two foot thick concrete prison walls. Extensive security barriers will be erected to maintain the integral security of the facility during construction. Special prison procedures regarding access and tool inventory control will be strictly adhered too. Each tool, saw blade, etc. must be accounted for on a daily basis.