Étude des projets de design factuel à l’aide d’un modèle analytique – Le centre universitaire de santé McGill

Abstract

The conceptual framework of evidence-based design has facilitated the rethinking of healthcare construction, by focusing on the creation of healing environments in buildings that are flexible, adaptable to new technologies, and economically efficient. Nowadays, two goals guide the healthcare sector: creating a healing environment and an efficient environment. However, evidence-based design remains a system whose effects are sometimes difficult to prove objectively. In addition, the construction of new hospitals faces problems with the financing of complex projects. The financial crisis, the aging population, and the evolution of medical technologies are all factors that affect the financing of hospital construction. One solution could be the public-private partnership, an innovative construction method, which attempts to replace the conventional one, especially for megaprojects. The public-private partnership is a relatively new framework in Canada, especially in the province of Québec. In the healthcare sector, this appears to be particularly problematic in regard to the link between the public structures of governance and the private firms that are willing to undertake the financing, design, construction, and maintenance of the establishments. This thesis proposes a tool for evaluating the key features of evidence-based design within two construction models: the conventional method and the public-private partnership. To do this, an interactive decision support system is developed for users to perform simulations, to test hypotheses, and to calculate derived data. The model is inspired by the redevelopment project of the McGill University Health Centre, and it links construction elements to the strategic position and the weight in the decision-making processes of the key stakeholders involved in this project. The methodology of the research has two components: qualitative and quantitative. This thesis contains data collected in three hospital areas: inpatient units, outpatient units, and the emergency room. A list of measurable parameters has been defined accordingly to evidence-based design main principles. The research also includes the analysis of more than twenty interviews, conducted with key players of the redevelopment project. The end result is the development of a flexible, interactive decision support system, which merges qualitative and quantitative data for a comprehensive evaluation of two different construction methods. Its architecture is simple and was designed for a variety of audiences, thus facilitating its use in a range of professional and geographical contexts.

Date	17 Dec 2012
Original language	French
Awarding Institution	École de technologie supérieure
Supervisor	Edmond T. Miresco (Supervisor)