Major Infrastructure Upgrades Support the Future of Behavioral Healthcare in Rhode Island …

TOCCI was awarded a substantial change order to upgrade critical infrastructure at Eleanor Slater Hospital in Rhode Island. This change order, issued by the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM) and the State of Rhode Island, expands TOCCI’s original scope to include extensive modernization efforts to ensure the building’s longevity and reliability. 

The original project, awarded in February 2024, focused on the creation of 60,000 square feet of high-acuity behavioral health space. Specialty windows and doors were included to improve safety, as well as complex integrated security systems. Additionally, façade renovations corrected moisture penetration issues.  These improvements were designed to aid the hospital’s core mission: to provide compassionate care for Rhode Island residents and revitalize an existing facility at a time when mental health services are more critical than ever. 

Eleanor Slater Hospital sits within a 15-building, 1.5-million-square-foot campus that supports multiple highly secure facilities and operations. The change order will bring essential upgrades to the hospital’s 1980s-era infrastructure, replacing systems that have reached the end of their lifecycle. TOCCI, in collaboration with NEMD and IMEG, has worked closely with MEP and fire protection subcontractors to plan and execute these upgrades while maintaining critical campus functions. er.

The change order scope includes installing new switchgear, distribution panels, and feeders, as well as a life safety emergency electrical closet, a cooling tower, six new air handling units, a steam absorption chiller, and a fire pump system—including a jockey pump and fire pump controller. The upgrade also involves replacing all sprinkler steam pipes, mains, and branches, along with installing a new fire alarm system while keeping the existing system operational during construction. Additional enhancements include new security access control systems, CCTV cameras, a paging system, and upgraded telecommunications, data, and networking infrastructure. These critical system upgrades must be executed with minimal disruption to campus operations, most notably, the first-floor kitchen, which serves the entire campus. This requires detailed coordination to ensure HVAC, electrical, sprinkler, and fire alarm systems remain fully functional throughout construction. 

Additionally, the hospital’s rooftop—one of the highest elevations in Rhode Island—houses antennas serving various state agencies. These antennas must remain operational at all times, adding another layer of complexity to the project. TOCCI’s team is working in close coordination with state agencies to ensure uninterrupted service. 

TOCCI’s ability to adapt and lead in complex, high-stakes environments continues to drive successful outcomes. With these upgrades, Eleanor Slater Hospital will remain a pillar of behavioral healthcare in Rhode Island for years to come.