A large academic healthcare provider in the southeastern part of the U.S. was planning to add 1 million square feet of research hospital space and  a new central utility plant as part of it's expansion plan, according to an article on the Consulting-Specifying Engineer website.

Despite this great increase in the facility size, the facility management team was challenged to minimize staff additions, the article said. Specific goals included:

• Minimizing staff additions to maintain new facilities

• Finding comfort issues before they become patient complaints

Eventually, a 500,000-square-foot cancer hospital opened with minimal staff additions. Using data analytics, the healthcare provider continuously monitors energy use and takes immediate action if values are out of sync. Building comfort conditions are evaluated using an algorithm that allows facilities staff to quickly find deteriorating comfort conditions, the article said.

Read the article.