Building Bridges: Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital
In the heart of Tacoma, Washington, a transformative project is underway with a promise to reshape healthcare for the community’s youngest members—the MultiCare Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital. And with the strategic partnership between Layton Construction and Abbott Construction to build it, the project stands as a testament to the power of collaboration and shared healthcare construction expertise.
BUILDING A SAFE HAVEN
Established in 1955 through the dedication of the Tacoma Orthopedic Association, now recognized as the Mary Bridge Brigade, the Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital has long been devoted to providing care to children and their families. Sixty-four years after its founding, the hospital needed an upgrade—and that need led to an unexpected partnership between Abbott and Layton.
Slated to be completed by early 2026, the 262,000sf new facility will soon provide 82 private patient rooms with shelled space for future needs, six operating rooms, a pediatric intensive care unit, and a hybrid interventional cardiology and radiology suite. The suite will have a dedicated MRI, CT, ultrasound, imaging, state-of-the-art infusion center, and more.
Before the new hospital transitioned from a concept to a reality, Abbott was considering how to pursue the project with a competitive edge. They then were introduced to Layton, who had recently joined the STO Building Group (STOBG) family of builders. Abbott had worked with STOBG as an Alliance Partner and was intrigued by Layton’s aligned business values and extensive healthcare experience. Recognizing the potential for a unified front, Abbott and Layton approached Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital with a proposal showcasing Abbott’s expertise and local presence in the MultiCare community and Layton’s excellence in managing large-scale healthcare projects, highlighting the strengths of both companies.
“The owner was very receptive to our proposal,” says Josh Mays, senior superintendent at Layton. “Essentially, we went from not being considered for the project to successfully securing and winning it together.”
THE FUTURE OF TEAM BUILDING
Looking forward, the collaborative experience gained with Layton-Abbott is seen as a stepping stone for future cross-business partnerships within the STO Building Group (STOBG) family. As the Mary Bridge Children’s project progresses, the collective experience spirit between Layton and Abbott promises not only a state-of-the-art medical facility but also a blueprint for successful collaborations in the future.
“At the end of the day, this will probably serve as a good role model for other units that may look at doing similar ventures together,” says Mays. “We consider ourselves the same company. We’re all part of the STOBG family; it’s about learning from what worked well and building off that into the future.”
FOSTERING UNITY
Unifying two construction companies as one team presented significant opportunities, which Layton and Abbott have now successfully implemented on multiple projects together—especially after Abbott officially joined the STOBG family. Their shared corporate services, use of common CMiC platform, and aligned leadership have been crucial to streamlining this proven partnership.
At Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital, not only has the team overcome operational hurdles together, but they have also fostered a cohesive culture, both on- and off-site. Layton and Abbott nurtured personal connections among team members through team-building exercises, monthly barbecues, and activities.
“Together, the Layton-Abbott teams worked diligently to create a unified front,” says Mays. “We even went as far as changing email signatures and truck decals to show that we were proud to work together in this partnership and that we’re both part of the STO Building Group (STOBG) family.”
A SHARED CLIENT-CENTRIC APPROACH
Lessons learned from the partnership became one of the cornerstones of the project’s success. Drawing from Abbott’s past experiences in Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) methods, the Layton-Abbott project team gained valuable knowledge that paved the way for smoother operations and enhanced risk management.
Abbott’s and Layton’s commitment to sharing risk and fostering relationships with the design team, owner, and trade partners created a unique collective environment based on a client-centric approach that has positively impacted the overall client experience, setting a precedent for future projects.
“It’s been a career growth opportunity for our team,” says Abbott project manager, Ryan Burt. “I started in the realm of small projects, so working with Layton, who has completed large-scale hospitals, is a unique experience that will benefit both sides.”
