KBE Building Corp. Provides New NICU Library at No Cost to Connecticut Children's Medical Center

Grand opening for NICU library celebrated on February 19, 2016.

Families of patients at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) at the UConn Medical Center in Farmington now have a peaceful retreat to help them as they deal with the stress of a child in the NICU. KBE Building Corp. (KBE) recently completed construction of the NICU library for parents adjacent to the NICU. Thanks to donations of time and services from KBE, its subcontractors, and Tecton Architects, the project was completed at no cost to Connecticut Children’s Medical Center.

The idea to turn a storage room into a peaceful library and retreat was conceived by The Baby Alex Foundation, an organization focused on pediatric brain surgery research, and its Alex’s Library initiative. The initiative’s mission is to provide books and other informational materials to families of NICU patients striving to find solace during difficult times. The organization was started by parents Nicole Schmidt and Erik Skulte after the premature birth of their son, Alex. Alex, now 8, his parents, and his sister Isabelle were on hand to cut the ribbon for the library opening.

Connecticut Children’s Medical Center NICU Library | Project Highlights

·         $0 total cost to Connecticut Children’s Medical Center

·         storage area converted to library

·         complete demolition of the existing cabinets, ceiling, and floor; full restoration and a custom bookshelf

·         strict Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) protocol followed to accommodate close proximity to the NICU

·         completed on October 26, 2015

“It has been our pleasure to provide this space to Connecticut Children’s Medical Center,” said Allan Kleban, KBE’s Vice President of Business Development. “Everyone at KBE hopes that it provides many years of comfort to the parents and family members of your tiniest of patients.”

Interior Building Contractors, DLZ Architectural Millwork, M Brett Painting Company, North Haven Ceramic Tile & Floor Coverings, Builders Hardware, and Sarracco Mechanical Services also donated time and materials to the project.

High-resolution photographs from the ceremony are available below:

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Photo Credit: KBE Building Corp.

Caption: Alex Skulte posing in the first Alex’s Library.

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Photo Credit: KBE Building Corp.

Caption: Mike Kolakowski, President and CEO of KBE Building Corp., and Michael Kolakowski, Jr., Project Manager, requesting Alex’s autograph.

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Photo Credit: KBE Building Corp.

Caption: Mike Kolakowski, President and CEO of KBE Building Corp., makes his remarks during the grand opening ceremony.

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Photo Credit: KBE Building Corp.

Caption: Members of the KBE team gathered to celebrate the new NICU library at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. (L to R: Allan Kleban, KBE; Isabelle Skulte; Alex Skulte; Barrie Deschaine, KBE; Mike Kolakowski, KBE; Michael Kolakowski, Jr., KBE; Jonelle Lawhorn, KBE; Sierra Fournier, KBE)

About KBE Building Corporation

Located in Farmington, CT, Norwalk, CT, and Columbia, MD, KBE Building Corporation is a full-service, single-source commercial construction company strategically positioned to serve the Eastern and Mid-Atlantic U.S. Founded in 1959 and incorporated in 1966, the firm provides preconstruction, construction management, design-build, and general contracting services to clients in the retail, educational, senior living, federal, corporate, hospitality, health care, and institutional markets. KBE has managed more than $4 billion in construction volume during the past two decades and is ranked among Engineering News-Record magazine’s top 400 construction companies nationally. Learn more at www.kbebuilding.com.

Media Contact: Jonelle Lawhorn | KBE Director of Marketing

t: 860.284.7431| c: 860.836.7517 | f: 860.284.7831 | e: jlawhorn@kbebuilding.com

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