Just as the healthcare industry has been transformed by innovations and technology, so too has the healthcare construction industry. The complex facilities where care takes place – hospitals, clinics, surgery centers, rehab facilities, and more – require construction partners who can build with precision, adaptability, and an eye on the future.
Whether managing massive equipment installations or routing complex utility lines, advanced technology is the key to delivering successful healthcare projects. To meet these rigorous demands, construction teams must actively embrace innovation – a priority across McGough, including our healthcare team.
In fact, innovations and technology have been utilized during the CentraCare Plaza Expansion in St. Cloud,MN, with a project groundbreaking in 2024 and completion slated for summer 2026. By leaning into new software, tools and innovative processes, our team has navigated a highly complex expansion of over 225,000 square feet while keeping the surrounding medical campus fully operational.
The CentraCare Plaza Expansion
The CentraCare project demanded careful coordination and flawless execution. The project features a new, 165,000-square-foot three-story Ambulatory Surgery Center & Clinic as well as a 60,000-square-foot Rehabilitation Building, designed with patient comfort at its heart while supporting CentraCare’s growth and strategic vision. With such an important mission, we made sure we used the best tools possible from the very beginning.
“Technology was used in early collaboration with design partners to improve communication,” says Kristine Sallee, Business Development Director for McGough. “We’ve learned that when all players are involved earlier it leads to better collaboration throughout the project.”
To bring this massive vision to life without disrupting ongoing patient care, we deployed a mix of cutting-edge digital tools and unique on-site strategies. These included several powerful digital platforms to keep the project on track and prepare the facility for the future.
- Streamlining Logistics with PLOT: Managing deliveries and site movement on an active healthcare campus is incredibly challenging. To solve this, our team utilized the PLOT system for the first time. PLOT is a dynamic logistics and scheduling tool that visualizes site maps and delivery timelines. By using PLOT, we greatly improved our site logistics, ensuring materials arrived exactly when needed without blocking critical CentraCare traffic. “Because the entire campus shares one address, deliveries could easily end up in the wrong place. Using PLOT helped us direct drivers to the correct construction gate – keeping them away from the ASC loading dock and preventing disruptions to CentraCare patient and staff operations,” said Tim Brogan, Senior Project Manager for McGough.
- Future-Proofing with OpenSpace: To make future upgrades seamless, we used OpenSpace. This technology captures 3D scans of the site during construction, creating a comprehensive virtual model of the building. With OpenSpace, facility managers can literally see what is behind any wall and know exactly where critical systems run before starting any future renovation work. Medical technology and treatments advance rapidly, and hospitals need facilities that can adapt to new equipment or be redesigned to support changing care.
- Maximizing Precision with Revizto: While some tools were new to this project, others relied on our deep, established expertise. We used Revizto Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) software to coordinate the complex web of systems and infrastructure involved in the expansion. It integrated 2D and 3D project data into a unified environment, allowing stakeholders to collaborate, communicate, and track issues throughout the project. Because our team is highly experienced with these tools, we maximized the efficiencies they offer, catching potential design clashes early and keeping the build moving smoothly.
Smart Solutions Aren’t Always High-Tech
Innovation in construction does not always require a screen. Sometimes, the best solutions are surprisingly simple. During the CentraCare Plaza Expansion, we used several simple innovations that drastically improved our workflow.
First, we built numerous, highly structured weekly, as well as daily check-ins into our standard process. This communication stream ensured every trade partner and project stakeholder stayed on the exact same page, preventing costly rework.
Another innovation we deployed for the first time with CentraCare was the use of orange inspection sign-off tags – preprinted stickers placed on doorframes throughout the facility to simplify tracking progress across a large, complex project. We used these during in-wall inspections prior to sheetrock and for above-ceiling work before padding out. As subcontractors completed and inspected their work in each space, they signed the tag -giving project managers, owners, and inspectors a clear, at-a-glance view of each room’s status during site walks, and signaling to sheetrockers and ceiling tile installers that they had the green light to move forward.
CentraCare has always supported innovative technology and communication tools, and this project was no exception,” Tim Brogan said. “They were fully on board with us trying new ideas, and we’re proud of the outcomes. CentraCare has even started incorporating some of our scheduling practices into their own operations.”
Leading the Future of Healthcare Construction
Innovation directly impacts the quality, speed, and safety of healthcare construction, and McGough is committed to staying at the forefront of construction technology. At CentraCare, our use of technology was one of the factors that helped the project excel.
“In this day, to say you are ahead of schedule and under budget, given everything, is really remarkable,” says Dave Larson, VP of Facilities and Support Services for CentraCare. “It takes special teamwork to make that happen.”
By blending advanced digital software with smart, practical site management, we can build complex medical facilities faster, more efficiently, and with greater precision – delivering the highest quality results for our clients and the communities they serve.
