The adage “Life is what happens while you make other plans” aptly captures the inherent unpredictability of the future. When designing and constructing healthcare facilities intended to serve for decades, this uncertainty presents a formidable challenge. The key is designing (or renovating) with adaptability to remain responsive to future needs we can’t predict with 100% certainty.
Healthcare facilities represent a complex interplay of multiple, interrelated components with very different lifespans. Building structure, medical equipment, IT, environmental factors, and even the broader social context evolve at their own pace. To ensure long-term viability, building architects and everyone else involved in the planning and design process must carefully consider and find ways to integrate these elements.
The issue with aging buildings
Before discussing the future of healthcare facilities, we must consider the many thousands of existing buildings in use today. Let’s face it — many of these buildings have lost their luster and aren’t equipped to serve today’s healthcare needs as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible.
After all, aging buildings often grapple with a host of issues that can significantly impact operational efficiency, occupant comfort, and overall building performance. Two primary areas of concern? Escalating maintenance costs and inefficient energy consumption.
Soaring maintenance costs
Compared to their newer counterparts, older buildings typically incur higher maintenance expenses. The cumulative wear and tear on building systems coupled with technological advancements not originally factored in (after all, how could they be?) contribute to this trend.
We’ve seen these challenges in healthcare facilities, educational institutions, and the hospitality industry. All three sectors face an expensive (and expansive) deferred maintenance backlog, with infrastructure upkeep and outdated technology consistently ranking among the top concerns.
Inefficient energy consumption
Buildings are substantial energy consumers, with offices leading the pack — although healthcare isn’t far behind. Over the past few decades, the increasing reliance on electrical equipment and more stringent cooling requirements have exacerbated energy consumption in commercial buildings.
Older buildings, especially, are energy hogs. Outdated HVAC systems and inefficient lighting contribute to soaring energy bills. While energy management systems (EMS) can help optimize energy use, many older systems are outdated or lack the capability to analyze and leverage energy data effectively.
Outdated IT and communications infrastructure
The rapid evolution of technology has rendered many older buildings ill-equipped to meet the connectivity demands of today’s users. Built before widespread internet access, these structures often lack the necessary infrastructure to support modern communication and collaboration tools.
Insufficient outlets, inadequate cabling, and outdated network systems are common pain points. The increased reliance on laptops, smartphones, and other mobile devices (not to mention all the portable electronic equipment healthcare facility staff use) has amplified these challenges. High-speed internet and advanced communication systems are critical to facilitate work and virtual collaboration.
Implications for healthcare facilities
Healthcare facilities, in particular, face unique challenges because of their vital role in patient care. Aging infrastructure can compromise patient safety, hinder operational efficiency, and increase the risk of equipment failures.
These facilities also have stringent infection control requirements that older buildings with outdated ventilation systems may struggle to maintain. Integrating advanced medical technologies often necessitates significant upgrades to electrical and data infrastructure.
Addressing these challenges requires a comprehensive approach that includes:
- Energy audits
- Infrastructure assessments
- Investment in building upgrades and retrofits
Healthcare facilities investing in building modernization will improve patient care, enhance operational efficiency, and reduce environmental impact.
Looking to the future
Understanding the components
We can deconstruct healthcare facilities into five main domains:
- Building structure: The foundation, frame, exterior, mechanical, and interior systems.
- Medical equipment: Imaging devices, lab equipment, surgical suites, and patient monitoring systems.
- Information technology: Sensors, servers, displays, and software.
- Environmental factors: Planning to ensure resilience against current and anticipated natural forces, including climate change and extreme weather events.
- Social context: The broader cultural, technological, and economic trends influencing healthcare delivery — and the most challenging domain to predict and plan for.
Addressing diverse lifespans
A healthcare facility’s success hinges on effectively managing the disparate lifespans of its components. While the building structure may endure for 50 years or longer, medical equipment typically requires replacement or upgrades every 10 to 20 years. IT typically experiences rapid evolution, with hardware and software becoming obsolete within five to ten years.
To accommodate this variability, healthcare facilities must be designed with flexibility in mind. Planners need to anticipate future changes and incorporate provisions for modifications. Robust, adaptable building frames accommodate evolving layouts and equipment. Scalable IT infrastructure can better adapt and integrate emerging technologies.
Prioritizing IT
Given the rapid pace of technological advancement, IT deserves a special nod here. Beyond hardware and software, healthcare IT systems often extend organization-wide. Planners must account for new and existing facilities.
Voice-activated controls and 5G wireless technology enhance patient care and operational efficiency, but 6G technology is looming. AI is already impacting the future of voice assistants. It feels like every week, we learn about a new technological marvel designed to make lives better or work easier — but integrating these tools into a healthcare facility requires careful consideration of that facility’s overall IT infrastructure.
Building for the future
A healthcare building’s structure serves as the foundation for the entire facility. A well-designed frame, with a regular column grid and plenty of floor-to-floor height, provides maximum flexibility for future modifications. Architects designing new (or renovating existing) buildings must carefully plan the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems to facilitate future equipment upgrades and changes in workflow.
Other important factors to include in the design phase? Public spaces, green areas, and emergency preparedness — all elements that contribute to the overall patient experience, staff well-being, and facility resilience.
Adapting to evolving healthcare delivery
The healthcare landscape is transforming. Procedures are becoming less invasive, recovery times are shorter, and the emphasis on outpatient care is increasing. Flagship healthcare organizations must keep adapting to remain competitive, necessitating facilities that can accommodate new technologies and evolving patient care models. Universal patient rooms designed to accommodate a wide range of patient needs are becoming increasingly common.
A fundamental shift is underway in healthcare facility design, with an emphasis on creating patient-centered environments. Modern facilities are prioritizing patient comfort, well-being, and overall experience, with rooms evolving from clinical spaces to more hospitable retreats. Incorporating elements like natural light, calming color palettes, and comfortable furnishings has become standard practice. Many healthcare facilities have harnessed the healing power of nature by incorporating biophilic design principles like indoor gardens and green spaces.
Technology is playing an important role, too. Smart room systems equipped with user-friendly interfaces empower patients to control their environment, from adjusting lights to accessing medical information. Mobile technology is also enabling healthcare providers to deliver more efficient, personalized care.
Ultimately, patient-centered design is about creating healthcare environments that support healing, reduce stress, and encourage patients to actively participate in their care — something healthcare facilities must also play an active role in.
Final thoughts
Futureproofing healthcare facilities demands a holistic, forward-thinking approach that transcends traditional building design. By recognizing the dynamic interplay of structure, equipment, technology, environment, and societal trends, healthcare organizations can create facilities that are not only functional but also adaptable and resilient.
Prioritizing flexibility, incorporating cutting-edge technology, and centering design around the patient experience are essential for building healthcare spaces that can weather the inevitable storms of change. The future of healthcare delivery is inextricably linked to the design of its facilities, making strategic investment in these structures a critical component of long-term success.
Are you a commercial real estate investor or looking for a specific property to meet your company’s needs? We invite you to talk to the professionals at CREA United, an organization of CRE professionals from 92 firms representing all disciplines within the CRE industry, from brokers to subcontractors, financial services to security systems, interior designers to architects, movers to IT, and more.
