OAKLAND, Calif. — Innovation met collaboration in a transformative way when XL Construction and RMW Design-Build pitched their proposal for UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland’s new Administrative Support Building (ASB). Among several structural options, one stood out—the use of mass timber. The concept not only aligned with sustainability goals but also resonated with UCSF Health’s commitment to progressive construction methods.
UCSF Health saw promise not only in the material selection but also in the seamless collaboration the XL/RMW team brought to the table.
“The XL/RMW team really showed UCSF Health that they had both the solutions and the systems to help us achieve our ambitious goals on this project,” says Michael McDonnell, UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland Sr. Project Manager, Design & Construction.
Overcoming Challenges Through Collaboration
Once awarded the project, the real challenge began: ensuring mass timber fit within UCSF Health’s budget constraints.
“Part of the story of this job,” says XL Project Executive Terry Wong, “is that we started with a higher budget than what the client had budgeted for, but they had entrusted us with the process to successfully drive the cost down. So, the team goes into Join and begins making decisions.”
However, managing costs was just one of many challenges. The team also had to navigate:
- A complex permitting process
- A compressed construction schedule
- Escalating material costs for mass timber
- Interior program modifications
- Prefabrication strategies
- Exterior design considerations
To streamline decision-making, the team relied on Join, a collaborative project delivery platform that enabled real-time communication and alignment between stakeholders.
“The timing of how quickly the team could identify and vet options was critical to getting through the design cycle,” says XL Sr. Design Build Manager Corrie Messinger.
This platform proved to be a game-changer for the project.
“Join was the bridge between the designer brain, the contractor brain, and the owner brain,” says RMW Principal Caitlin Pastori. Initially, her team relied on XL to input data into Join, but after experiencing the platform’s efficiency firsthand, they became fully engaged in the process.
The Future of Mass Timber at UCSF
This project marks UCSF Health’s first foray into mass timber construction, setting the stage for future developments that embrace sustainability and modern construction methodologies. Through strategic decision-making, digital collaboration, and a shared commitment to success, the XL/RMW team is helping UCSF redefine how healthcare facilities are built.
For a deeper dive into how Join facilitated this groundbreaking project, read the full case study here.
Originally reported by Jill Lonergan in Construction Dive.