The Wellstar Children’s Hospital of Georgia (CHOG) Lobby Refresh stands as a benchmark case study in healthcare construction management — demonstrating how a complex, multi-phase renovation can be executed inside one of Augusta’s busiest pediatric facilities without interrupting critical patient care services, pediatric emergency operations, or visitor access to the building.
Completed in approximately eight months for $2 million, the project replaced aging infrastructure dating to the hospital’s 1998 opening: cracked flooring, water-stained ceiling tiles, a long-defunct fountain, and outdated furniture were replaced with modern, infection-resistant finishes. The renovation culminated in the dedication of the new space as the “Dr. Charles G. Howell Jr Lobby” — honoring the pediatric surgeon whose vision gave rise to CHOG itself.
Success depended on meticulous cross-departmental planning. Facilities, nursing leadership, security, environmental services, emergency department operations, parking management, food services, and communications teams all collaborated to maintain seamless access throughout construction. This document examines the strategies, phasing decisions, and operational protocols that made this outcome possible.
There was zero disruption to pediatric emergency services. Patient, staff, and visitor access maintained throughout all construction phases through pre-planned corridor rerouting and stakeholder communications.
Project At-a-Glance
| Total Project Investment | $2,000,000 |
| Construction Start | August 29, 2024 |
| Substantial Completion | May 2025 |
| Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony | October 13, 2025 |
| Duration (construction) | ~8 months |
| First Renovation Since Built | 1998 (26-year interval) |
| Original Lobby Built | 1998 |
| Hospital Bed Capacity | 154 inpatient pediatric beds |
| Primary Contractor Scope | Flooring, ceiling, paint, MEP modifications, furniture, donor wall |
