Resilient and Sustainable Healthcare Construction for a Greener Future

As climate risks continue to escalate, the need for resilient, sustainable healthcare facilities has never been more urgent. Turner Construction Company, a leader in healthcare infrastructure, is pioneering climate-adaptive construction that prioritizes safety, functionality, and environmental sustainability.

One of Turner’s most ambitious projects, the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Phillip and Susan Ragon Building, is setting a new benchmark in low-carbon, climate-resilient healthcare construction. This 1.9-million-square-foot redevelopment in Boston, a collaboration with Walsh Brothers, integrates advanced resilience strategies to withstand climate-related challenges while meeting Boston’s 2050 carbon reduction goals.

A Model for Climate-Resilient Healthcare Construction

Hospitals are increasingly vulnerable to extreme weather events, which can disrupt operations and endanger patient care. Turner’s approach to the MGH Ragon Building ensures that the hospital can withstand these challenges and continue functioning under extreme conditions.

“We have witnessed weather events that have impacted hospitals’ ability to operate, jeopardizing patient care,” said Brian Chase, Turner’s Vice President & Construction Executive on the MGH project. “It is imperative to properly manage the design and construction of resiliency elements in our new healthcare facilities to minimize these impacts.”

Key Features of the MGH Ragon Building:

✅ Climate-Responsive Systems – Wind-resistant designs and flood barriers to mitigate severe weather risks.
✅ Resilient Infrastructure – Engineered to function as a “96-hour island”, allowing continuous operations under shelter-in-place conditions during emergencies.
✅ Sustainability Integration – Achieving a 90% reduction in emissions compared to baseline code-compliant buildings.

The MGH Ragon Building serves as a blueprint for the future of healthcare construction, proving that hospitals can adapt to climate change while reducing their carbon footprint.

Decarbonizing Healthcare Facilities: The Energy Challenge

Healthcare buildings, particularly in cold climates like Boston, require substantial energy to heat, cool, and dehumidify incoming air. This presents a major challenge for hospitals aiming to reduce emissions while maintaining safe and efficient operations.

Turner, in collaboration with mechanical engineer BR+A, introduced a groundbreaking solution:

Innovative Heat Pump Configuration for Maximum Efficiency

Exhaust-Source Heat Pump System

Captures heat from the building’s warm exhaust air and reuses it for pre-heating and re-heating, reducing overall energy consumption.
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Optimized for Real-World Conditions

While sized for only 20% of peak heating load, it reduces emissions by nearly 90% by targeting majority operating hours rather than rare peak loads.
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Cost-Efficient and Environmentally Sustainable

Avoids overdesigning for peak conditions, maximizing environmental and financial returns.

This strategic energy approach exemplifies how cutting-edge design can reduce carbon emissions, lower operating costs, and enhance sustainability in the healthcare and life sciences industries.

‍Turner’s Industry Leadership in Sustainable Healthcare Design

With expertise in energy-efficient, climate-adaptive construction, Turner is one of the few general contractors capable of implementing such advanced sustainability solutions in healthcare. From new construction to retrofits of existing buildings, Turner’s projects showcase a commitment to long-term resilience and energy efficiency.

“At Turner, we understand that sustainable healthcare design and construction is more than weatherproofing buildings; it’s about purposely creating a healthcare workplace that is resilient to climate change and engineered with high-performance solutions that lower emissions and prepare buildings for the energy transition,” said Peter Hamill, Turner’s Senior Vice President and Project Principal.

“These projects exemplify how collaboration and innovation can create facilities that meet climate challenges as well as provide impactful solutions for the long-term operational life of a healthcare project. It is projects like this that help pave the way for a sustainable future.”

Building for a Resilient Tomorrow

Turner Construction is at the forefront of the climate-resilient healthcare movement, ensuring that hospitals of the future are prepared for changing environmental conditions. By leveraging advanced technology, sustainable design, and resilient infrastructure, Turner is not just constructing buildings—it’s shaping the future of sustainable healthcare.

As the demand for energy-efficient, resilient hospitals grows, Turner’s MGH Ragon Building is a testament to what’s possible when innovation meets necessity in healthcare construction.

Originally reported by Turner Construction.