Florim Kukaj, Assoc. AIA, EDAC’s Post

Tuesday Takes: Facilitators by Day, Educators by Design As healthcare architects and managers, we wear two distinct but equally critical hats: that of the facilitator and educator. As facilitators, we orchestrate the complex web of ideas, plans, and specifications, ensuring everything comes together seamlessly. It's like conducting an orchestra - each discipline plays its part, and our role is to harmonize their innovative efforts and mitigate risk before it even arise. That makes us specialized generalists, who turn complex challenges into achievable goals, from the first sketch to the final inspection. On the flip side, as educators, we arm our clients with the knowledge and strategic foresight they need to make informed decisions. It’s not just about presenting options; it’s about clearly illustrating the real-world impact of those choices, from budget and schedule implications to long-term operational impact. For instance, when a healthcare client is considering a new project delivery system, it’s our responsibility to outline not just the immediate challenges but clearly map a realistic path to achieving and sustaining this goal. This could mean: showing the client how to balance the added risk against an increased speed-to-market goal, or identifying the cultural shift needed within the system, or providing them with metrics to secure the buy-in and capital budget approval from their C-suite. As equally crucial, its our duty to highlight the cost of inaction - because sometimes, doing nothing can be the most expensive decision of all. At the end of the day, being both facilitators and educators means we’re not just keeping the trains running on time; we’re also making sure everyone knows where the train is headed and why it matters. It’s a balancing act, but one that ensures we’re not just building spaces, but building trust and innovation along the way. #HealthcareDesign #ProjectManagement #CapitalBudget #InnovationInHealthcare #DesignThinking #HealthcareConstruction #RiskManagement #HealthcareFacilities #LeadershipInDesign #HospitalPlanning #LifeSciences #ArchitectsOfCare

It’s been a long time coming! #NJ #DCA #DesignProfessional #SelfCertification #Construction

Tuesday Takes: Are we running out of scientists? The life sciences industry is rapidly evolving, fueled by breakthroughs in gene editing, personalized medicine, and the acceleration of Generative AI (GenAI) adoption. However, a critical challenge looms: the growing talent gap. Nearly half of industry executives admit they’re missing out on business opportunities due to a shortage of skilled professionals. Recent data also shows a shift in career paths for new Ph.D. graduates, with fewer pursuing academic postdocs and more moving directly into industry roles, driven by the promise of higher salaries and tangible impact. This issue is exacerbated by an educational system that struggles to keep pace with the industry's rapid evolution, leaving a dry pipeline for a booming sector. This exodus of young life scientists from academia to industry is increasing the gap and deepening concerns about the future of academic science in the U.S. Addressing this gap requires more than just short-term fixes; it demands a continuous effort requiring partnerships between companies, educational institutions, and governments: -- Companies must invest in building a strong workforce by collaborating with educational institutions to develop relevant curriculums, creating internship and fellowship programs. It's not enough to simply poach talent - there needs to be a focus on cultivating it through upskilling programs and tailored talent acquisition strategies. -- Academia, as the primary source of the talent pipeline, needs to adapt faster to industry trends, by incorporating practical and real-world projects into their curriculums to ensure that students are not only well-versed in theory but also in the practical applications of their knowledge. By fostering closer ties with industry partners, educational institutions can better prepare graduates for the workforce, ensuring they possess the skills that employers need most. -- Governments need to play a supportive role by funding workforce development initiatives, such as STEM education - making science more accessible and attractive to young people. Governments can also streamline immigration processes to attract and retain skilled foreign workers who can fill temporary gaps in the domestic workforce. To ensure the life sciences industry continues to thrive, a concerted effort is needed to create a supportive ecosystem that nurtures talent and maintains a strong connection between research and practical application. This is crucial to sustain the industry`s strong commitment to bettering the lives of patients. #LifeSciences #STEMEducation #Biotech #Innovation #AcademicPartnerships #HealthcareInnovation #STEMCareers #PharmaCareers #BiotechCareers

New York City to be home to one of the nation's largest offshore wind projects: Sunrise Wind, a 924-megawatt project that will provide enough clean energy to power approximately 600,000 homes! #RenewableEnergy #NYCEDC #SustainableDevelopment #CleanEnergy #WindEnergy #ClimateAction #UrbanSustainability

Tuesday Takes: The IPD Secret Sauce In this article I write about IPD, and how it has become like that trendy new restaurant everyone's talking about but New York hospitals are still hesitant to make a reservation - stuck in their comfort zone of familiar, tried-and-true project delivery systems. I understand that change can be seen as a risky bet, but if the entire project team is constantly preoccupied with risk management, there's less opportunity to innovate and offer the owner valuable cost or schedule-saving solutions. Building trust and creating a safe space for team members to speak up, disagree, and act in the best interest of the client and project, are vital for the team's success and the project's overall benefit. However, it remains challenging to shift people’s natural tendency to passively wait for information from others, only to then charge the client for time, cost, and schedule changes. Everyone, including consultants and owners, must adapt their usual methods to align with the group’s deliverables, requiring a shift in how they’ve been doing business throughout their careers. While traditional construction methods feel safe, they're also slow, costly, and often adversarial - exactly what IPD could fix with its collaborative, risk and profit sharing approach. It’s time for healthcare systems to ditch the old blueprints, invest in IPD education, and test the waters with smaller projects - because sticking with the status quo might just cost more than they're willing to pay. #HealthcareConstruction #HealthcareDesign #IntegratedProjectDelivery #ConstructionInnovation #ProjectManagement #IPD #HealthcareFacilities #ConstructionTrends #NortheastConstruction #CapitalProjects

Last night's American College of Healthcare Executives of New Jersey (ACHE-NJ) social event was a fantastic introduction to their vibrant community, filled with incredible people and engaging conversations. Special thanks to our own AMFP North Central New Jersey - Association of Medical Facility Professionals for co-sponsoring this event, and to our Director of Strategic Alliances Don Procz, PE, LEED AP for connecting healthcare professionals from these two amazing New Jersey organizations.

Had an amazing time last week at the Long Island Summer Jam networking event, organized by the Long Island Committee of the AMFP Greater NY - Association of Medical Facility Professionals. This event brought together a vibrant mix of AMFP members and healthcare-built environment industry friends and colleagues – all pretending to be serious while secretly eyeing the hors d'oeuvres. Kudos to the organizers for nailing the perfect mix of professional charm and laid-back vibes. Can't wait for the next one, where we'll once again try to convince each other that our projects are ahead of schedule. Cheers to a night well spent!  #HealthcareDesign #ProfessionalNetworking #LongIslandProfessionals

Tuesday Takes: Human-powered care The rapid adoption of digital and virtual tools in the healthcare sector, spurred by the pandemic and advancements in artificial intelligence, has significantly transformed patient care. Technologies such as telemedicine, mobile health apps, monitoring wearables, implantable drug delivery systems, and care bots have enhanced efficiency, allowed remote monitoring, and reduced the need for in-person visits, providing benefits like efficient patient triage and better chronic disease management. These innovations promise to improve patient outcomes and healthcare service delivery, easing the burden on overstretched systems. However, the increasing reliance on technology raises concerns about the potential loss of human touch in healthcare. Essential human elements like empathy, compassion, and physical presence are crucial for quality care, and their absence could undermine patient trust and satisfaction. Additionally, ethical issues and digital exclusion, particularly among older and disabled populations, must be carefully considered. While digital tools can alleviate pressure on healthcare systems and offer numerous benefits, including improved decision-making and streamlined processes, they should complement rather than replace human touch. To make care more human-powered amidst these technological advancements, hospitals can prioritize integrating technology in ways that enhance rather than replace human interaction. This can be achieved by training healthcare providers to use digital tools as complementary aids, ensuring that patients still receive personalized and empathetic care. Additionally, hospitals can create hybrid care models where technology handles routine tasks, freeing up healthcare professionals to spend more time on direct patient care, building relationships, and addressing the emotional and psychological needs of patients. By focusing on these strategies, hospitals can harness the benefits of technology while preserving the essential human elements of care. #DigitalHealth #HealthcareTechnology #HumanTouch #PatientCare #EmpathyInHealthcare #PatientExperience #HealthcareDesign #FutureOfHealthcare

Tuesday Takes: New isn’t always the answer Paris is hosting the 2024 Summer Olympics with a budget that is considerably lower than any recent Olympic Games, making it the cheapest of the 21st century. Traditionally, hosting the Olympics has led to significant budget overruns, with cities often facing financial strain. In contrast, Paris has managed to keep costs comparatively low by leveraging existing infrastructure and minimizing new construction. Only three new venues were constructed, including the Olympic Village, which will later serve as housing and student accommodations. Paris is also incorporating a high number of temporary structures that can be repurposed or dismantled after the Games, thus minimizing long-term environmental impact and ensuring that post-Games facilities will serve long-term community needs. Paris's strategy offers a valuable lesson for healthcare capital budgeting. Hospitals often rush to build new structures without fully evaluating the capacity and efficiency of their existing spaces and infrastructure. Instead, healthcare systems can take a more strategic approach by conducting thorough utilization assessments of existing facilities to identify underused or inefficient spaces, and potential operational improvement opportunities. By optimizing existing spaces, together with utilizing modular or prefabricated building solutions, investing in technology upgrades and energy efficiency retrofits among other things, hospitals can achieve impactful results with minimal capital expenditure. Moreover, this approach aligns with the growing emphasis on sustainability and long-term value in capital planning. By prioritizing the optimization of current resources and integrating environmentally friendly practices, hospitals not only manage costs more effectively but also contribute to broader sustainability goals. Embracing this mindset can lead to enhanced operational efficiency, reduced carbon footprint, a more resilient healthcare infrastructure, and thus demonstrating hospital`s commitment to environmental stewardship. This holistic approach not only supports financial health but also reinforces the hospital’s role as a responsible community partner, ultimately benefiting both patients and the broader environment. #HealthcareDesign #CapitalBudgeting #SustainabilityInHealthcare #HealthcareInfrastructure #LeanDesign #FutureOfHealthcare #StrategicPlanning #HealthcareFacilities #OlympicStrategy