UT Southwestern Clements University Hospital

The UTSW Clements University Hospital project in Dallas added a 12-story, 650,000-square-foot tower with 300 new patient beds and renovations, including 19 operating rooms and an expanded Emergency Department. Lean construction and modular techniques addressed integration challenges. The expansion led to a 136% increase in surgical capacity since 2015, enhancing the hospital's reputation as a leading academic medical center in the region.

Scope of Work

The UTSW Clements University Hospital project in Dallas, Texas, involved the addition of a 12-story, 650,000-square-foot tower to the existing hospital and about 50,000 square feet of renovations. The expansion introduced approximately 300 new patient beds, bringing the total capacity to around 750, and included 19 new operating rooms, two Gamma Knife rooms, an MRI room, an intraoperative MRI (IMRI) room, a CT room, three hybrid/angiography rooms, and an expanded Emergency Department. Additionally, two new eight-story parking garages—one with a helipad—were constructed, along with extensive site work and installing a 2500kW Caterpillar generator to support critical systems.

Challenges & Solutions

Integrating a substantial addition with the existing hospital while maintaining ongoing operations posed a significant challenge, addressed through Lean construction practices like pull planning and Building Information Modeling (BIM) for efficient coordination. Modular construction techniques were also deployed to minimize on-site disruptions. Another challenge was ensuring the new facilities met high standards for patient care and operational efficiency; this was achieved through thoughtful design featuring a W-shaped floor plan to reduce staff travel distances and advanced air filtration and water treatment systems to promote safety and comfort.