DPR Construction’s latest Healthcare Insights report underscores why resilient design, which ensures healthcare facilities can operate through disruption and adapt to long-term environmental challenges, is no longer optional. The report outlines a multi-faceted approach to minimize environmental impacts, enhance operational certainty, and improve sustainability.
The report identifies four key focus areas:
Climate-specific design: Floodproofing. Hurricane-resistant assemblies. Wildfire mitigation strategies. Embedding regional climate intelligence directly into design results in infrastructure that stays operational during extreme events.
Energy efficiency and on-site power: Energy-efficient HVAC systems, smart lighting and advanced insulation are becoming standard. But the bar is rising. More systems are going off-grid, integrating solar arrays, wind turbines and battery storage to ensure backup power and reduce operational costs.
Low-carbon building practices: Embodied carbon is a top priority. Choosing recycled steel, low-carbon concrete and sustainably sourced materials are key considerations. When possible, existing buildings are reused or retrofitted, cutting embodied emissions.
Innovative construction for speed and flexibility: Prefabrication and modular design are accelerating timelines and reducing waste. These assemblies are built off-site, protected from weather delays and installed with minimal disruption. In post-disaster scenarios, this model also helps facilities scale or recover faster.
