News & Insights
VIDEO: Built to withstand: engineering resilient hospitals
Why this matters now
Hospitals are expected to function when everything else has stopped. Severe weather, grid disruptions, and public health events have made resilience a defining design criterion. Health systems are also facing tighter capital, aging facilities, and growing patient expectations. Resilience is no longer a single backup generator decision. It is a portfolio-level conversation about structure, systems, operations, and the surrounding community.
What leaders are weighing
Health system leaders are weighing the cost of resilience features against the cost of disruption. They are deciding how aggressively to harden envelopes, elevate critical systems, and design for extended islanded operation. There are tradeoffs around redundancy, code minimums versus performance design, and how to coordinate resilience with capital projects already underway. Clinical leaders want assurance that care can continue. Boards want defensible investment cases. Communities want hospitals that show up when they are needed most.
How Salas O’Brien is helping clients respond
Our healthcare engineering team helps systems plan and deliver resilience strategies that hold up under real conditions. We bring structural, MEP, controls, and resilience expertise together with healthcare-specific operational understanding. We help clients prioritize facilities and systems, model performance under stress scenarios, and sequence investments that fit clinical and financial realities. Hear Cliff Long, Kevin Whitehurst, Phillip Barbe, Hannah Browning, and Doug Hasley talk through what resilient hospital design looks like in practice.
Kevin Whitehurst, PE
Kevin is a registered Professional Electrical Engineer and has extensive experience in the design of electrical systems, central energy plants, lighting, communications and alarm systems, and essential power systems for healthcare facilities. His experience includes design and project management as well as coordinating all requirements necessary for project delivery. Kevin serves as a Principal at Salas O’Brien.
Clifton Long, PE
Clifton Long is a prominent mechanical engineer specializing in hospital design across the United States. As a recognized subject matter expert, Cliff excels in the design of HVAC systems, central energy plants, mechanical rooms, piping systems, instrumentation and controls, and energy management solutions. With extensive experience in project scheduling, cost control, and sustainable design, he has successfully collaborated with owners and contractors on projects delivered through a variety of methods. Cliff serves as a Principal at Salas O’Brien. Contact him at [email protected].
Phillip Barbe, PE
Phillip Barbe is a licensed Mechanical and Fire Protection Professional Engineer with 26 years of experience delivering innovative, energy-efficient solutions for complex built environments. His expertise spans mechanical engineering, fire protection, LEED, and sustainable design across healthcare, corporate, entertainment, and arts facilities. Known for his collaborative approach and ability to navigate multidisciplinary projects, Phil helps clients solve complex challenges and improve project outcomes. He serves as a Principal at Salas O’Brien. Contact him at [email protected].
Doug Hasley
Doug Hasley is an experienced Plumbing and Fire Protection Designer experienced in domestic water and waste systems, natural and propane gas, medical gases, outside utilities, and automatic re-suppression systems, including automatic sprinklers. Doug has partnered directly with contractors in the Design Assist and Early Design Involvement environment to successfully deliver efficient and lean designs, creating projects geared for high quality patient care.
Hannah Browning
Hannah Browning is a Graduate Engineer at Salas O’Brien with experience supporting electrical engineering design across a range of healthcare facilities, including new build hospitals, existing healthcare environments, medical office buildings, and parking garages. She works closely with utility companies and authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs) to help ensure projects are delivered efficiently and effectively. Hannah’s role includes managing project tasks and coordinating electrical design efforts across multidisciplinary teams. Contact her at [email protected].