Smart hospital engineering
Participants
J. Patrick Banse, PE, LEED AP, elder mechanical engineer, Smith Seckman Reid Inc., Houston Benjamin J. Cole, CxA, LEED AP BD+C, HFDP, chairman, division director, TLC Engineering for Architecture, Dallas Michael A. Crowley, PE, FSFPE, SASHE, chief vice president, The RJA Group, Houston John Saad, HFDP, LEED AP, managing president, R.G. Vanderweil Engineers, LLP, BostonCSE: What engineering challenges do hospitals pose that are different from other structures?
J. Patrick Banse: Integration of complex machine-driven, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems/space considerations and increased low-voltage system requirements with Group 1 and Set 2 medical equipment while satisfying a sophisticated and knowledgeable user are challenging. The competitive nature of the healthcare subject, with the desire to provide patients as pleasant an experience as possible, has pushed design teams and contractors to find ways to destroy a project sooner than they would like to. How to do that without sacrificing quality and the required facility operation and function is an growing challenge.




