The complexity of modern healthcare construction demands a strategic, technology-forward approach from the start. In a recent Becker’s Healthcare webinar, leaders from Schneider Electric, Suffolk Construction and Introba shared how early collaboration, integrated design and thoughtful technology planning can transform the healthcare build process.
Together, they explored how health systems can align design, construction and operations for better long-term outcomes.
Here are four key takeaways from the session:
1. The importance of early integration
Traditional design-bid-build models often silo architects, contractors and technology vendors, delaying budget clarity and limiting innovation.
“Traditional bid build is generally focused on lower first costs, but doesn’t look at the overall lifecycle,” said TJ Landers, vice president of MEP Preconstruction at Suffolk. “If you’re not collaborating early, ideas aren’t brought into the traditional picture, it really limits innovation.”
In addition, the group agreed that getting the right partners involved early allows teams to shape a realistic, value-driven plan before decisions become costlier.
“It’s not so much the process as it is the players,” said Mike Maselli, managing principal of technology at Introba. “When you get the right players involved that have a spirit and an energy of collaboration and teamwork, everything seems to work really well.”
2. Keeping projects aligned
Target value design, a collaborative approach that is designed to meet predefined budget targets, allows teams to manage cost while maximizing value. This approach provides continuous feedback with strong targets early and a full value picture about costs. Mr. Maselli also noted an emerging perspective that budget should define a project instead of restricting it.
Using a simple visual “choosing by advantages” decision tool to evaluate system tradeoffs based on lifecycle cost, performance and operational impact can help owners understand the long-term implications of design choices.
“Really good communication tools between contractors, designers and owners allows us all to speak the same language, which is very beneficial all coming from different angles in the industry,” Mr. Landers said.
3. Preventing costly reworks
Long lead times, rapidly changing technologies and increasing expectations for smart hospital rooms mean technology decisions must happen early.
Braheem Santos, U.S. segment leader for healthcare at Schneider Electric noted that technology often ends up being an afterthought in construction projects, typically treated as less important than the physical space. He emphasized that this approach undermines how the building will function long-term, underscoring that planning for technology should be prioritized from the outset.
“If you really treat these buildings like the human body, just imagine spending all this effort beefing up the exterior, the bones etc. and then leaving it to the end to figure out how much money you have leftover to dump into the brain or the nervous system,” said Mr. Santos.
He reinforced that frontloading the understanding and planning of how a building should act and operate is crucial to success. This includes sustainable decisions when adding smart and connected components and other related technology to avoid locking into outdated systems.
4. Integration empowers the future
Kurt Gokbudak, U.S. solutions consultant for healthcare at Schneider Electric highlighted how siloed planning often leads to “spaghetti junction,” where systems are expensive to install and maintain.
“Deploying technology just for the sake of technology may not give you the result you desire,” said Mr. Gokbudak. Instead, integrated planning early on can avoid duplication and ensure systems deliver operational value from day one.
The panel closed with a strong call to action: don’t delay conversations about technology. As health systems face increasing pressure to deliver smarter, more sustainable facilities, open, forward-thinking conversations with all involved stakeholders can help organizations build better for the future of healthcare.
“Start having conversations, they’re free,” Mr. Santos said. “Don’t get bottled down in the process and find yourself losing time. Dare to be bold, there’s going to be elements of discomfort, but stick with it.”
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