Insights | 28th Oct 2025
Ground Up Hospitals with Andrew Jennings
Building a hospital is one of the most fulfilling experiences I’ve had as a project manager. As a premature baby, I was flown for life in order to receive lifesaving care. It’s hard to quantify the feeling of getting to build a space that will help other children and families in the community receive that same care. Hospitals hold a unique place in our lives—they are where some of life’s most significant moments happen, and to me, this is what makes success so crucial when building a hospital.
Reflecting on my latest hospital project, Intermountain Health Lutheran Hospital, there are three significant ways a contractor can partner with clients to ensure the success of any hospital project:
1. Early Investigation
Hospitals are investments by the community for the community, and their construction must reflect that responsibility. From the strength of the foundations to the quality of the building, hospitals need to stand the test of time. This starts with the site. Unlike other projects, hospitals often have fewer site location options, as they need to be centrally located and accessible to those they serve. Contractors play a critical role in ensuring the chosen site meets the hospital’s long-term needs. At Haselden, we prioritize these thorough site investigations. This includes performing extra core samples to fully understand the soil conditions and ensuring all soil brought onsite for leveling is structurally rated. When preparing a site, we meticulously address issues such as elevation adjustments and soil quality, giving designers the information they need to craft a solid foundation. Sitework is also an opportunity for our team to begin utility management, ensuring that the correct tie-ins exist and that all utility companies have been notified of the upcoming plans, saving delays later. This preparation helps set the stage for a hospital built to serve its community for decades.
2. Trade Partnerships
Hospitals are unique in their need for both uncompromising quality and rapid construction timelines. In Colorado, new hospitals often face immediate demand, with patients ready to fill the facility the moment it opens. At Haselden, we bring major trade partners into the process as soon as we are awarded the project. This collaboration allows us to identify cost-saving measures and schedule efficiencies during the design phase, eliminating the need for value engineering later. For example, on the new Intermountain Health Lutheran Hospital, we worked closely with our trade partners to divide the building into three separate projects. This strategy enabled multiple subcontractors for the same trade to work simultaneously, significantly reducing the overall schedule. Additionally, we collaborated with engineers to develop a system that allowed us to begin structural steel erection before all cores or foundation slabs were completed, accelerating the project timeline without sacrificing quality.
3. Commitment to the Vision
The most important way a general contractor can partner with a client building a new hospital is to fully embody the vision of the project. Understanding exactly what the client is hoping to achieve helps us focus every decision of the project. Hospitals serve diverse purposes—whether it’s comprehensive community care, pioneering research, or cutting-edge services. By understanding a client’s unique goals, contractors can align every scope to achieve the desired outcome. At Haselden, we take this a step further, even getting to know the doctors and nurses and other staff to determine what means the most to them. Their input informs our decisions and keeps us focused on what truly matters. During construction meetings on the Lutheran Hospital project, we invited healthcare staff to share their perspectives on the hospital’s importance. Their stories inspired our teams, fostering unity and a shared commitment to excellence.
The right partner is crucial to the success of a new hospital. When the entire team is aligned on the vison and mission of the final space, it makes for a generational project. I hope that I get to continue to work on hospitals throughout my career and build spaces that benefit our communities. If you have any questions on this information or want to dive deeper into Haselden’s approach to healthcare construction, please feel free to reach out.
