Orlando Health: Contractor Tips for Tapping into a $5.8B Building Budget

Amid the ever-changing Orlando skyline, it’s hard not to notice the surge in construction projects. As indicated by the 2023 Economic Forecast published in Building Central Florida magazine, one of the leading drivers of this trend is Orlando Health, with a building agenda that rivals that of smaller cities.

Some of Orlando Health’s major projects include a new hospital in Lake Mary, a 95-bed expansion at Orlando Health South Lake Hospital in Clermont, both set to launch in 2024. Furthermore, significant projects are underway in locations such as Apopka, Winter Garden, and downtown Orlando on Underwood Street.

John Walsh, assistant vice president of facility development at Orlando Health, spoke at the ABC Builders Breakfast in February, where he noted current trends in healthcare facilities favor smaller facilities tucked into neighborhoods over large, centrally located urban health centers. Add to that the amount of public funding available for healthcare and you can understand the increase in the numbers of building projects.

Walsh mentioned two of the biggest challenges Orlando Health faces are hiring all the sub-contractors they need and developing enough projects to spend all the money available before funding expires. When he asked the room full of ABC members who had worked or was currently working on an Orlando Health building project, almost everyone raised their hand.

Here are some tips Walsh had for contractors interested in getting involved in any of the upcoming Orlando Health projects:

• Counter rising supply costs and supply-chain issues through early purchasing, making use of Orlando Health’s extensive warehousing space. Relying on the availability and affordability of materials isn’t an effective strategy.

• Pursue projects whose scale and complexity align with your capabilities. Orlando Health is looking to build long-term relationships with contractors who consistently deliver a quality product.

• Develop a process for maintaining cleanliness on job sites to help avoid injury to workers, medical staff, patients and family members who may need to traverse worksites. Many Orlando Health sites must remain open to patients throughout the project. Language and decorum are also important on these active sites. No one wants to tangle with crude behavior while attending a medical appointment or visiting sick loved ones in the hospital.

• Attend a monthly coffee chat with the development team in Orlando Health downtown offices. These informal conversations can help make the right connections, better understand the details of upcoming projects and anticipate specific subcontractor needs.

Orlando Health’s ongoing and future projects reflect the thriving construction industry in the Orlando area. The opportunities for contractors are vast, making it an ideal time to seize these prospects.