Fast-Tracked Healthcare Campus to Deliver Future-Ready Care
A replacement hospital is among the most complex building types in the industry, layered in regulatory demands, technical requirements, and operational imperatives. For McLaren Health Care, the urgency behind this project was just as critical as the facility itself. Their vision: replace two aging hospitals with a single, state-of-the-art healthcare campus, built to serve future generations. What made this challenge extraordinary was the required pace. With a fast-tracked timeline set by the client, the project team needed to accelerate every decision, every document, and every trade coordination without ever compromising the quality of care that would eventually be delivered inside.
Our integrated design team came together from day one. As part of a design-build partnership with Barton Malow | The Christman Company, HED worked closely with McLaren and trade partners to rethink how healthcare delivery could move forward (literally and figuratively) faster. That started with proximity and partnership: our mechanical trade partner was co-located in HED’s office for over a year, establishing the kind of day-to-day transparency and rapport that can’t be replicated in video conferences.
With multiple bid packages and staggered document issuances, design was done in a fluid, non-linear rhythm that reflected the urgency of the work ahead. Collaborative tools played a central role, allowing the team to visually map, plan, and prioritize what was needed—and when—to keep construction in motion.
That clarity and shared trust became the foundation of progress. This wasn’t about design first, build second—it was about designing and building in lockstep, with clear accountability and constant alignment. When challenges surfaced, as they always do in complex healthcare environments, we tackled them not through confrontation but curiosity: what exactly is needed? What’s the intent? What’s the fastest path to keep moving without sacrificing performance? That mindset created space to ask better questions and deliver better outcomes.
In the end, McLaren’s new hospital was delivered on time and with intention and saw an almost 8% reduction in construction costs. The new facility stands as a beacon for the community, consolidating services, elevating patient care, and signaling McLaren’s long-term commitment to the region.
By getting it right early, we helped our client make smart decisions, reduce risk, and together, shape a healthcare space ready for what’s next.
