Eric Dierks
Sr. Project Manager | Real Estate, Design & ConstructionUniversity of Pennsylvania Health SystemEric Dierks is a Senior Project Manager at the University of Pennsylvania Health System, Penn Medicine, with over 20 years of experience managing healthcare projects as a developer, builder, and owner. He has spent the past seven years at Penn Medicine, beginning with the Clifton Center for Medical Breakthroughs, a $1.6B, one million square foot hospital and Penn Medicine’s first Integrated Project Delivery IPD project. Eric is committed to applying IPD principles to foster high performing, collaborative teams and to deliver renovations and new construction that maximize value while minimizing operational impacts.
E06 – Building the Future of Patient Care: Collaborative Strategies for Complex Healthcare Renovations
This session examines the renovation of two vacant behavioral health floors totaling 14,600 square feet in the Wright Saunders Building at Penn Presby…This session examines the renovation of two vacant behavioral health floors totaling 14,600 square feet in the Wright Saunders Building at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center. Faced with an aggressive schedule and significant infrastructure constraints,…This session examines the renovation of two vacant behavioral health floors totaling 14,600 square feet in the Wright Saunders Building at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center. Faced with an aggressive schedule and significant infrastructure constraints, the project team adopted a highly collaborative, human‑centered design approach to transform outdated spaces into modern medical‑surgical units that support patient experience, staff efficiency, and …This session examines the renovation of two vacant behavioral health floors totaling 14,600 square feet in the Wright Saunders Building at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center. Faced with an aggressive schedule and significant infrastructure constraints, the project team adopted a highly collaborative, human‑centered design approach to transform outdated spaces into modern medical‑surgical units that support patient experience, staff efficiency, and care delivery. Originally envisioned as a traditional renovation, the project evolved to integrate smart patient room technologies based on insights from multidisciplinary stakeholder engagement. Speakers will discuss how design and planning decisions informed the integration of digital care boards, outside‑the‑door displays, automated lighting, nurse call systems, and building automation—while addressing implications for room layout, visibility, coordination, and workflow. The session will highlight key design and delivery challenges, including added scope and extended lead times for critical infrastructure such as a new air handling unit and multiple automatic transfer switches. Presenters will share how early release packages, prefabrication, and real‑time collaboration enabled design alignment and schedule continuity under supply‑chain pressure. Attendees will gain actionable design strategies for applying human‑centered principles to fast‑tracked healthcare renovations, balancing technology integration, infrastructure reliability, and patient‑centered outcomes in complex clinical environments.Show MoreClick the title to see all detailsShow More
