Medical Building Construction

As with all types of construction projects, medical building construction involves a long list of details and specifications that must be seen to. Medical buildings also have special requirements because of their purposes.

New Horizon Construction Services of Groveland, FL, would like to outline a few of the unique concerns when planning for the construction of a new medical facility.

Specialized areas

The term “medical building construction” can apply to a wide range of building project types, from hospitals with multiple tiers and departments to small dental offices and rehab clinics. Your general contractor should understand the type of facility you wish to build and have verifiable experience with similar projects.

Regulatory standards and codes

Commercial building construction is governed by regulatory codes that differ from state to state. In order to pass a building inspection, a new facility must meet codes that cover structural standards, plumbing, electrical, HVAC systems, property drainage and more.

With medical building construction, the builder has a number of general and industry-specific codes to follow. One example is the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, which mandates that public buildings meet certain accessibility standards for people with disabilities.

Medical facilities, often more than most other types of buildings, serve a higher percentage of visitors with some type of chronic or acute disability. Making a new building ADA-compliant requires an understanding of the laws and regulations that govern access and safety for patients and others with disabilities.

Unique spaces and needs

All medical facilities need to be built specifically for the healthcare equipment they’ll contain. The company or group behind the project will know the types of equipment required, but the contractor must know how to build for the equipment.

A large part of architectural planning for a medical building involves the design of electrical systems that will support medical devices and machinery. The contractor must make sure that electrical access is built safely and correctly into the project.

Many medical buildings will need exam and treatment rooms. Most will require waiting areas or lobbies for patients and visitors. Some will contain areas for food service and dining. Each unique space must be planned and built to provide optimal service and functionality.

Selecting the right medical building construction contractor

Building a medical facility, no matter its size and scope, is a major undertaking. For the facility to be able to serve as intended, a lot of care must be taken from the very start of the project – and even beforehand – to do every phase right and in compliance with state and local codes.

For this reason, follow these tips when choosing a contractor to lead the construction of your medical building:

• Read the contractor’s website to learn the type of work he or she specializes in.
• Talk only with contractors who have verifiable experience in the type of medical facility you’re planning to build.
• Check references and confirm professional affiliations; talk with past customers.
• Ensure that the contractor holds a current license in the state in which you live.
• Check that the contractor is fully insured.
• Visit finished projects the contractor has built and get a feel for the type of work he or she does.
• Talk with the contractor and make sure you feel like this person is the type of person you can work with on a sizeable project.

Your medical building construction project

New Horizon builds premier medical facilities of all sizes and functions throughout the greater Groveland, Florida, region. Let us show you why we’re your best choice for this exacting work.

Speak with a medical facility contractor today at (407) 574-2164. You can also use our contact form.