Hospital expansions are rarely easy propositions. On top of the technical challenges inherent with medical facilities, nearly every facet of operations, from delicate surgical procedures to linens and other supply services, must be protected from the disruptive effects of construction. That can add up to a lot of headaches for the project team.
Not so with the Mayo Clinic’s $145-million East Side Expansion, currently underway in Phoenix. Instead of a conventional delivery approach, the project has combined elements of integrated project delivery, “big room” planning and an attitude of approaching knottier issues as opportunities for innovation. And more than a year into construction, the prognosis for a successful outcome appears extremely positive.