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Healthcare is changing more rapidly than any time in history. Over the last 10 years, healthcare facilities have required one of the highest levels of capital expenditure of any other non-industrial business. This era is being dominated by electronic health records and delivery approaches. Because these processes require real-time coordi- nation and information exchange among multiple healthcare providers, patients, insurance companies and locations, an even higher level of capital investment is an- ticipated in the coming decade as hospitals establish foundations in technology. The healthcare industry also is chang- ing dramatically due to the combination of an aging population, rapid advancements in diagnosis and treatment, changing care Considerations and lessons learned By Derek Cox – THE – MISSION CRITICAL DATA CENTER modalities and the roll out of the Af ordable Care Act. All healthcare ser- vices will need to be more convenient to access and less expensive, and technol- ogy is a key factor in delivering on that expectation. To be successful, a hospital or healthcare network has to be incred- ibly ef cient; quick access and control of data is part of that ef ciency. Digital information systems and healthcare technology are becoming imperative re- sources for hospitals. Hospital systems rely on quick access to data to manage records of diagnosis, treatment, imag- ing and wellness activities for patients. Data also is used for other healthcare operating functions such as security and insurance and billing process- ing. An even wider-spread use of this technology is predicted in the future. As healthcare providers solve for accommodating this explosion of patient data to applications and full digital hospital record software programs, the addition of a new or expanded onsite data center is becom- ing more common. Whether it is a new hospital or renovation of an existing structure, facilities must be even more ef cient, sustainable and fl exible. Hospitals can face unique construc- tion challenges when incorporating an onsite data center within a highly complex healthcare facility. A new approach to healthcare project deliv- ery is essential. A few challenges and solutions during recent data center builds in two large, highly complex hospital projects are outlined below. Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City, Missouri Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City, Missouri, requested a new data center be completed and function- ing early in the construction process of the hospital's new Mid America Heart Institute. In order for the 10,000-square-foot data center to be integrated with the existing facility and not just the new addition, it would need to be open and running before the rest of the building was completed. There were major concerns about how to keep crucial computer equip- ment dry with minimal dust while con- struction happened above and around it. To protect against leaks, the project team built a temporary roof membrane above the IT center and had the space monitored for moisture. After the data center was turned over and became operational, dust from the continuing construction was the next issue to solve. Frequent tests were performed, which involved particulate collectors on a daily basis. As the design developed through- out the project, MEP systems had to be core drilled through the concrete deck above and surrounding walls to service the new parking garage and adjacent kitchen. Knowing protec- tion of the active IT equipment was 46 Medical Construction & Design | M A RCH /A PR IL 2015 | MCDM AG.COM