Healthcare Design - April 2020 - 22

INSIDE STORY

In addition to project details, the survey also
asked firms to provide insight on their own
working environment today as well as their industry outlook. First, the respondents identified the greatest challenge they face-this year,
talent acquisition was selected by 39 percent,
followed by pressure to lower fees at 24 percent.
The same top challenges were chosen in 2018,
as well, but in reverse order, with pressure to
lower fees selected by 32 percent and talent acquisition by 23 percent. As for ranking all other
top challenges, shorter construction schedules,
more competition, and achieving owner/client
buy-in and managing volume/scope of end user
input rounded out the top five.
Respondents explored these issues, and more,
in further survey feedback on both the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. "The 2020
marketplace promises to continue to be very
busy with great opportunities for significant
planning and design," says survey respondent
Tom Chessum, principal at CO Architects (Los
Angeles). "Challenges will likely be a continuing need for fast project delivery schedules and
a continuing trend of increasing construction
costs, while always accomplishing better value
and quality for our clientele."
That idea of delivering more value was noted
several times by respondents, with firms exploring alternative approaches to project planning,
design, and construction to better answer client
needs. For example, Richard Witt Jr., chief client officer and senior vice president at AE Works
(Pittsburgh), says his firm is looking beyond aesthetics to also "blend the practical" by introducing solutions that answer needs tied to technol-

37%
37%
37%
37%
37%
37%

Most common client need
that drove projects in 2019

25%
0%

Increasing
Renovation/
sustainability
modernization of space
measures

Supporting population
Replacement of
23%
7% health/creating
outdated buildings
ambulatory networks

18%
3%

Expansion of/addition
to an existing facility

Improving patient
Growing outpatient
experience/
network via new sites
satisfaction

Most common client goal
for projects in 2019

13%
55%

10%
3%

Preparing facilities for
Renovation work with
telehealth/emerging
addition
technologies

55%
40%
3%

Improving patient
experience/
satisfaction

23%
35%
3%

Designing spaces
for future flexibility/
adaptability

3%
18%

Supporting population
health/creating
ambulatory networks

23%
5%
7%

Designing spaces
Addressing aging
for future flexibility/
building stock
adaptability

Projects
Projects
Projects
Projects
Projects
Projects
completed
completed
completed
completed
completed
completed
in
in
in
in
2019
in
2019
in
2019
2019
2019
2019
by
by
by
by
by
size
size
by
size
size
size
size
range
range
range
range
range
range

3%
6%

37%

23%
23%
23%
23%
23%
23%
23%

23%
5%

20%
20%
20%
20%
20%
20%
20%

Repurposing space
Adding service lines
for new use

Designing spaces
for
futureout
flexibility/
Building
shell space
adaptability

13%
13%
13%
13%
13%
13%
13%

6%
6%
6%
6%
6%
6%
6%

Supporting population
Rebranding
7%
2% health/creating
3%
ambulatory networks

1%
1%
1%
1%
1%
1%
1%

5,000
5,000
5,000
5,000
5,000
5,000
---- - - 20,000
20,000
20,000
20,000
20,000
20,000
---- - - 50,000
50,000
50,000
50,000
50,000
50,000
---- - - 100,000
100,000
100,000
100,000
100,000
100,000
---- - - 500,000
500,000
500,000
500,000
500,000
500,000
---- - - More
More
More
More
More
More
than
than
than
than
than
than
50,000100,0005,00020,000500,000More
than
19,999
19,999
19,999
19,999
19,999
19,999
sq.ft.
sq.ft.
sq.ft.
sq.ft.
sq.ft.
sq.ft.
49,999
49,999
49,999
49,999
49,999
49,999
sq.ft.
sq.ft.
sq.ft.
sq.ft.
sq.ft.
sq.ft.
99,999
99,999
99,999
99,999
99,999
99,999
sq.ft.
sq.ft.
sq.ft.
sq.ft.
sq.ft.
sq.ft.
499,999
499,999
499,999
499,999
499,999
499,999
sq.ft.
sq.ft.
sq.ft.
sq.ft.
sq.ft.
sq.ft.1M
1M
1M
1M
sq.ft.
1M
sq.ft.
1M
sq.ft.
sq.ft.
sq.ft.
sq.ft. 1M
1M
1M
1M
sq.ft.
1M
sq.ft.
1M
sq.ft.
sq.ft.
sq.ft.
sq.ft.

19,999 sq. ft.

49,999 sq. ft.

99,999 sq. ft.

499,999 sq. ft.

1M sq. ft.

Projects completed in 2019 by size range

ogy and infrastructure, for example. "Hospitals
are seeking architectural updates that improve
safety and operational efficiency, infection control, patient and staff satisfaction, and energy
conservation."
And many of these solutions rooted in value are
in response to what's now a decade-plus trend
of uncertainty and hesitancy to make capital investments as the impact of the ACA's value-based
financial model is still being realized, says Paul
Strohm, senior principal, director of healthcare
at HOK (St. Louis). "I think healthcare reform
won't have significant change until 2021, post
the next national election cycle," he says. In the
meantime, respondents note additional solutions such as standardization and universal design are in place as a way to adjust spaces to not
only meet demand for certain services but respond to shifting reimbursements as they come.
And while survey responses show talent acquisition to be a universal issue for healthcare
A/E/C professionals, those on the construction
side of the industry are feeling its weight most

APRIL 2020

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Healthcare Design - April 2020

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