Medical Office Building Construction Deep: Specialty MOB Construction Beyond General Office
Medical Office Building (MOB) construction substantial healthcare specialty distinct from general office. Includes physician offices, outpatient clinics, ambulatory care, urgent care, specialty practices. Specific HVAC for clinical spaces, plumbing for medical fixtures, electrical for medical equipment, and finishes for healthcare distinguish from general office. Substantial market growth with healthcare expansion and shift to outpatient. Understanding MOB construction helps GCs serve healthcare clients beyond hospitals.
This post covers medical office building construction deep.
Various MOB tenant types:
MOB tenant types
- Primary care offices
- Specialty practices (cardiology, orthopedics, etc.)
- Imaging centers
- Surgery centers (covered separately ASCs)
- Diagnostic labs
- Physical therapy
- Specific to MOB market
Various MOB tenant types served. Primary care offices including family practice, pediatrics, internal medicine. Specialty practices including cardiology, orthopedics, dermatology, oncology, OB/GYN. Imaging centers (MRI, CT, X-ray). Surgery centers (ASCs covered separately as substantial scope). Diagnostic labs (labs for blood, samples). Physical therapy and rehabilitation. Specific to MOB market — multi-tenant MOBs vs single-specialty.
Clinical spaces specific:
Clinical spaces
- Exam rooms (specific size, finishes)
- Procedure rooms
- Specific medical gas (oxygen, vacuum sometimes)
- Specialty rooms (per specialty)
- Specific to FGI Guidelines
- Specific tenant requirements
Clinical spaces specific MOB component. Exam rooms with specific size (8-10 ft x 10-12 ft typical), finishes (cleanable, durable). Procedure rooms for substantial procedures (sutures, IV therapy, etc.). Specific medical gas (oxygen, vacuum sometimes) at exam rooms. Specialty rooms per specialty including imaging, treatment, recovery. Specific to FGI Guidelines for outpatient. Specific tenant requirements.
HVAC specific to medical:
HVAC for MOB
- Specific air changes per ASHRAE 170
- Substantial outside air typical
- Filtration substantial (MERV 13+ typical)
- Pressure relationships specific
- Specific zoning per use
- Substantial vs general office
HVAC specific to medical MOB use. Specific air changes per ASHRAE 170 (Healthcare Standard) substantial vs general office. Substantial outside air typical for infection control. Filtration substantial including MERV 13+ typical (vs MERV 8-10 general office). Pressure relationships specific (substantial in some areas). Specific zoning per use including clinical, public, support. Substantial vs general office in capacity and quality.
Plumbing specific:
Plumbing
- Hand-wash sinks at exam rooms
- Hot water at substantial fixtures
- Floor drains in some spaces
- Specific to medical use
- Substantial vs office
- Eyewash stations (lab areas)
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Plumbing specific to medical use. Hand-wash sinks at exam rooms (per ASHRAE 170 typically). Hot water at substantial fixtures supporting hand-washing. Floor drains in some spaces (procedure rooms, lab). Specific to medical use — substantial fixture count vs general office. Substantial vs office in plumbing scope. Eyewash stations in lab areas per safety codes.
Electrical substantial:
Electrical
- Substantial power for equipment
- Specific outlets at exam rooms
- Imaging power (MRI, CT substantial)
- Emergency power for specific equipment
- Specific isolated power sometimes
- Substantial vs office
Electrical substantial in MOB. Substantial power for medical equipment vs general office. Specific outlets at exam rooms (typically 4-6+ per room). Imaging power substantial — MRI requires dedicated power, CT substantial loads. Emergency power for specific equipment per code. Specific isolated power sometimes for specific applications (operating, isolated areas). Substantial vs office in electrical scope.
Finishes substantial:
Finishes
- Cleanable surfaces throughout
- Substantial flooring (vinyl, sheet vinyl)
- Specific paint (cleanable, low-VOC)
- Specific ceiling (cleanable tiles)
- Quality lobby/waiting (patient experience)
- Specific to use
Finishes substantial in MOB. Cleanable surfaces throughout for infection control. Substantial flooring including vinyl, sheet vinyl, specific resilient. Specific paint including cleanable, low-VOC for indoor air quality. Specific ceiling including cleanable tiles in clinical. Quality lobby/waiting for patient experience. Specific to use — clinical vs public spaces different finishes.
MOB construction substantial healthcare market with substantial growth from outpatient shift. Quality healthcare-experienced GCs differentiate substantially from general commercial. Specific FGI Guidelines and tenant coordination essential. Substantial market opportunity — healthcare systems and developers building substantial MOBs. Worth substantial expertise development.
MOB construction substantial healthcare specialty distinct from general office. Various tenant types from primary to specialty practices. Clinical spaces specific design. HVAC specific to medical with ASHRAE 170 air changes, filtration. Plumbing specific including hand-wash sinks. Electrical substantial for equipment, imaging. Finishes substantial cleanable throughout. For GCs serving healthcare, MOB substantial market opportunity. Outpatient shift driving substantial growth. Quality construction supports operations and patient experience.
Written by
Marcus Reyes
Construction Industry Lead
Spent twelve years running AP at a $120M general contractor before joining Covinly. Lives in the world of AIA G702/G703, retainage schedules, and lien waiver deadlines. Writes about the construction-specific workflows that generic AP tools get wrong.
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