Medical Construction & Design

JAN-FEB 2015

Medical Construction & Design (MCD) is the industry's leading source for news and information and reaches all disciplines involved in the healthcare construction and design process.

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Economic and social drivers, such as reduced reimburse- ments, are generat- ing opportunities and incentives for a once-insulated industry to rewrite the rules of the game. Healthcare professionals are positioned to lead a meaningful transformation, from managing illness to promoting well- ness. A broader approach to sustain- ability — including a shift to district- scale design — can maximize the value and performance of healthcare facili- ties facing real-world constraints. Energy-intensive, industry-specifi c construction elements such as infec- tion control, ventilation requirements, 24/7 occupancy and high-lighting requirements result in the healthcare industry contributing 8 percent of all carbon emissions from the U.S., with more than $8 billion spent an- nually on non-renewable energy. To address these problems, health- care systems should establish broad sustainability goals that address eco- nomics, human health and productiv- ity, and environmental resource fac- tors. Sustainable performance should be measured over time after project completion, utilizing LEED and other rating system checklists as well-rec- ognized, easily understood bench- marks of a larger holistic approach. As detailed in a recent white paper released by McGraw Hill Financial, "Transforming Healthcare Facilities: How a Broader Approach to Sustain- ability Can Improve Patient Care and the Bottom Line," two substantial Embracing a broader approach to sustainability Changing the Game DISTRICT- SCALE DESIGN healthcare projects undertaken by BBH Design — for clients UPMC East and WakeMed North — illustrate a sustainable design approach that bal- ances ecological, social and economic objectives. Successful implementa- tion rests on three core principles: an integrated team approach; discern- ible, quantitative methodologies and a focus on creating healthy buildings. An integrated team approach The earliest stages of a project are the best time for all stakeholders to collaborate on decision-making principles on sustainability. For the UPMC East project, the design and construction team was selected and assembled to both restore the site and support a healing mission, and a "guiding principles" document was drafted to act as the decision-making framework. But about a year into the design, the economy worsened dramatically. Though UPMC opted to cut about 40 percent of the build- ing's scope, it retained 90 percent of its green features. The staying power of sustainable design in this case can be attributed to its early integration. The owner for the WakeMed North project used strict return on investment criteria to evaluate the viability of proposed sustainable design options with the aid of real- time contractor pricing. The design team relied on quantitative analysis and computer modeling to demon- strate compliance with the owner's standards. The integrated team made it possible to retain fl exibility while working toward the shared goal of LEED Gold certifi cation under the LEED for Healthcare rating system. Discernible methodologies Analytical methods allowed the design team to compare present and long-term strategies, winning cli- ent trust by demonstrating building performance over time. Computer simulation modeling measured solar heat gain and energy use based on building orientation and energy- reduction strategies. An energy use intensity target of 184 kBtu/ft2/yr was established for UPMC East. After the fi rst 14 months of operation, analysis of data showed the actual EUI was higher than WakeMed North Raleigh, N.C. 62-bed community hospital CONSTRUCTION: Renovation + New build TIMELINE: 2012-15 AREA: 242,000 sq ft CERTIFICATION SYSTEM/LEVEL: Pursuing LEED Gold __ Above: Markings show the hypothetical net zero energy district for WakeMed North. BY TIM SPENCE, MARIA PAPIEZ & NEIL CHAMBERS Green news & practices Map: BBG Design MCDM AG.COM | JA N UA RY/ F EBRUA RY 2015 | Medical Construction & Design 51

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