Through involvement in the early masterplanning stage, our technology specialists work closely with the client to develop a technology masterplan that covers all the functional objectives of the healthcare facility. In this way all the technological requirements can be incorporated into the architectural and fabric of the building and budgeted-for from the outset. For example, we worked closely with internal stakeholders at the Sydney Adventist Hospital, which is at the forefront of integrating technology in healthcare facilities in Australia, to achieve their goal to realize the benefits of a digital technology for optimum operation of a new clinical services building.
Technology can impact the design of every part of a healthcare facility. For example, in-room care and entertainment systems may dictate the shape and size of the room; the size and quantity of robotic pharmacy systems could affect the location and width of corridors and how circulation paths are designed; and space may be required for data and communications centres, with appropriate air conditioning to keep the IT and data equipment at the optimum operating temperature.
Planning also needs to take into account the support required for digital medicine. To ensure 100% up-time of life-critical functions and procedures such as robotic surgery, there is a need for reliable, real-time connectivity, physical space for the machines and an uninterrupted power supply and back-up generators. At Box Hill Hospital, our involvement ensured that the right space and base infrastructure and systems were in place to enable the digital operating theatres to evolve in the future without having to be re-built each time there was a change in technology.
Our role also covers the technology associated with a building’s operational efficiency. Thanks to our team’s innovative and collaborative thinking from the start of design of the Dell Children’s Medical Centre in Dallas, the owners were able to create one of the most energy-efficient hospitals in the world, and the first globally to achieve platinum-level LEED accreditation, as well as saving $8M in capital outlay through an innovative power, heating and chilled water outsourcing initiative.