By Julie Brown, Institutional Market Leader, Johnson Controls, Building Solutions North America 

When a hospital within a Florida-based healthcare system needed critical facility upgrades, hospital leaders laid out specific goals they wanted to accomplish with their investment. They were clear that the updates would need to lower operating costs and reduce energy consumption, but they also wanted to make sure they were effectively managing the cost of construction.

The mechanical contractor expressed concern about installation timeline and costs, but early partnership and communication with Johnson Controls meant that they were able to proactively demonstrate how chosen technologies would help meet their objectives and keep the project on track and on schedule.

A clear vision: The design and construction process

From the very beginning stages, the hospital provided Johnson Controls with clear parameters for a successful project. This included Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MEP) specifications to help the design process. These guidelines provided details about what pressure monitors would be in which areas of the hospital before receiving full project drawings. With this information and coordination with hospital leaders, Johnson Controls had more options available to determine the best ways to meet project goals while staying in budget.

To address energy saving and operational expense priorities, York YMC2 Centrifugal Magnetic-Drive Chillers were selected. These chillers use less energy and water as part of a central plant design. The team also designed the customer’s full control system to tie back into their national corporate enterprise server. With this, both the local facility group and corporate level team were given the capability to access the system, pull required reports, and compare how this hospital is operating with other facilities.

Results speak for themselves

The streamlined process that Johnson Controls and the hospital were able to establish from engaging early on ensured that customer objectives were top of mind throughout all project stages. That alignment made it possible for the upgrades to happen faster and easier. Not only did the updates help renew the facility, but the native integration of different facility systems also allowed systems for more effective and efficient facility operations.

Now that the hospital has one unified building system, there are lower service-related costs and quicker maintenance. The hospital’s patients and staff will benefit from this facility improvement project for years to come. Explore how a streamlined design, construction and maintenance process can help your healthcare system focus on its mission here.