Managing the Schedule

A Case Study

Utilizing Prefabrication and Design-Assist to Enhance the Project’s Schedule

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Weather-Resilient Construction: Despite facing three significant weather events, including a tropical storm, a hurricane, and icy conditions, BE&K successfully kept the project on track to meet the Owner’s “first patient” target date.
  • Innovative Offsite Prefabrication: By utilizing offsite prefabrication for the mechanical and electrical scope, BE&K enhanced safety, quality, and efficiency, allowing the facility to be energized 3–4 months ahead of schedule.
  • Advanced Coordination and Technology: Early selection of MEP subcontractors and BE&K’s management of the 3D modeling process improved coordination, enabling faster completion of complex mechanical and electrical systems.
  • Scope Expansion: BE&K’s schedule management and mitigation efforts allowed for the successful completion of a 2nd-floor upfit, originally planned for a later phase, without impacting the project’s final timeline.

CLIENT PURPOSE + PROCESS

The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) sought to create a comprehensive pediatric healthcare facility to serve the children of the Tri-County area with accessible, high-quality medical services. The MUSC Children’s Health R. Keith Summey Medical Pavilion, a new two-story, 100,000-square-foot facility, was built to provide a wide range of pediatric specialty clinics, outpatient surgeries, diagnostic imaging, and support services such as lab, pharmacy, and urgent care—all in one location.

The client’s vision was to offer families a seamless healthcare experience, with 54 exam rooms, four operating rooms, and specialized services like audiology, cardiology, dermatology, and more. The facility’s design focused on creating an environment that promotes both convenience and comfort, with easy access, hassle-free parking, and child-life play spaces for families.

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Highlights

  • Building Size — 100,000 SF
  • Service — Construction Management
  • A/E — LS3P Associates
  • Location — North Charleston, SC
  • Diagnostic Imaging Spaces
  • 54 Exam Rooms
  • 4 Operating Rooms

CHALLENGE

Three major weather events (a tropical storm, a hurricane, and even snowy/icy conditions), threatened the project’s schedule and the Owner’s “first patient” target date.

SOLUTION

Receipt of prefabricated electrical rooms

In addition to fine tuning the schedule bi-weekly in order to remain on target, our project team made the strategic decision to offer innovative offsite prefabrication for most of the facility’s mechanical and electrical scope. This strategy significantly enhanced the project’s overall safety, quality, budget, and schedule.

Through the use of advanced technologies, all standard and emergency electrical power rooms were constructed offsite in full, including metal studs, drywall, switchgear, and conduit. This approach enabled the facility to be energized approximately three to four months ahead of schedule.

BE&K also significantly enhanced coordination for the mechanical and electrical systems through early selection of MEP subcontractors and BE&K’s management of the 3D modeling process. Healthcare facilities include a greater volume of overhead ductwork and medical gas piping. Our MEP design-assist approach helped us quickly and correctly complete the coordination process vastly improving the project’s schedule.

The final facility also included a significant scope addition during construction — the inclusion of a 2nd floor upfit previously planned as a “Phase 2” project. Through BE&K’s schedule mitigation efforts, the project was completed on time and ready the “first patient” target date.

3D model showing mechanical room coordination
MEP final installed photography with exact locations provided

READY TO COLLABORATE?

Discover how BE&K Building Group’s preconstruction, design-assist, and construction management expertise can bring your healthcare vision to life. With a proven track record of delivering state-of-the-art facilities like the MUSC Children’s Health R. Keith Summey Medical Pavilion, we’re ready to help you create spaces that provide exceptional care and convenience. Contact us today to learn more about our innovative solutions for healthcare construction.