The construction or upgrade of any health care facility calls not only for architects but also civil engineers if the goal is to improve patient, doctor, and visitor experience. Civil engineering involves the design, construction, and maintenance of infrastructure for buildings, tunnels, parking and dams as well as water and sewage treatment facilities. Both health care administrators and the public who seek treatment for their health conditions may be interested in how civil engineering influences hospital design and function. Here’s what they should know.

What Role Does Civil Engineering Play in Health Care Facility Design?

Surveying

Land surveyors from civil engineering firms ensure hospital and health care construction sites are ready for building. They assess the presence and condition of features such as floodplains, utilities, topography and storm drainage. Land surveying teams locate boundary lines, verify status of easements, and provide zoning classification information. Accurate survey points are crucial in facility planning – especially in healthcare facilities. If a health care facility requires additions or major improvements to existing structures, land surveyors are critical to enable the design of the structures to conform to the footprint that the site allows – both prior to construction and during site improvements.

Site Planning & Building Design

Civil engineering firms work closely with architects to create highly navigable health care facilities that meet the standards for convenience and functionality of staff, patients, and visitors. Site planning, building design, construction planning, and project management aid the development of stormwater and water reuse systems. Civil engineers also design and oversee the construction of parking facilities, overpasses, and roads for optimal access and safety.

Civil engineers/planners make certain the buildings meet all height, dimension, bulk, and parking requirements to prevent costly delays and potential legal entanglements. Their services benefit building aesthetics as well. Outdoor landscaping, lighting, walkways, and plazas all fall under their purview.

Regardless of the health care project, civil engineers strive to create positive user experiences for the benefit of all, whether caregivers, patients, or visitors.

Abercrombie & Associates, Inc., has provided unmatched civil engineering services throughout Cincinnati and the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Tri-State area since 1976. Specializing in commercial and residential development, choose from services such as land surveying, property zoning, and site engineering. Call (513) 385-5757 today to get your project started, or visit them online to learn about their qualifications and previous projects.