Most of the time on Future Healthcare Today we focus on innovations in healthcare IT that help payers and providers deliver better care and outcomes to patients. However, this story on the expansion of the University of Virginia Health System University Hospital expansion in Charlottesville, Virginia caught our eye.

The University Hospital Expansion added a 440,000 square foot expansion to the existing medical facility and connected to the existing building “on 12 levels, as well as at other entrances throughout the existing hospital.” The complexity of integrating this new building with the existing facility without impacting patient care and safety presented a “logistical challenge,” said John Calvin, a Project Executive at Skanska.

From ensuring that the placement of cranes did not impede the hospital’s Level 1 Trauma Life Flight team to ensuring that infection control protocols were maintained as demolition occurred and the two buildings joined up, the team from Skanska had their work cut out for them. So how did they overcome these challenges and deliver on the university’s vision?

In short by putting best-in-class digital design tools including “AutoCAD, Navisworks and Revit for design, coordination, planning and fabrication.” These digital design tools enabled the visualization of the project and collaboration between the many teams working on the project.

Now that we’ve given you a birds-eye view of this complex and fascinating project, head over to GovDesignHub to read the story of the University of Virginia Health System, University Hospital expansion. It’s fascinating!