This estimated $9.8-million hospital delivery—kicked off in January 2020 and completed in April 2022—benefited from one of the first extensive uses of virtual construction in Latin America. The tools aided planning, logistics, constructibility reviews, tendering, budget reviews, scheduling, safety and cost control.

Torre Médica Otay is a 12-story full-service hospital that includes urgent care, surgical rooms, specialty clinics and more. The biggest challenge in a developing country is collaboration, says PIZÁ. The visualization and other technologies, used throughout design, contracting and execution, helped avoid the custom of blaming others and finger pointing by enhancing communication across all disciplines and breaking down silos, according to the firm.

Building information modeling, virtual tours, digital twins and more helped identify more than 1,000 risk items, review cost estimates, track progress, determine the safest way to build and coordinate the trades.

PIZÁ took on the responsibility of paying for safety checks. One example of this was hiring a geotechnical lab that determined retaining walls were needed for safe excavation of a steep slope. The added step to cast the walls caused a one-month delay but likely saved lives, says PIZÁ.

The project was finished on a revised budget and schedule, caused by COVID-19 lockdowns and delays receiving supplies.