UPMC Presbyterian
UPMC Presbyterian Bed Tower: Designed for Care, Engineered for Safety
Pittsburgh’s evolution as a global center of medical science advances with UPMC’s new state-of-the-art patient tower, designed by HGA. Construction began in summer 2022, with opening set for fall 2026. The tower’s bold architecture reflects UPMC’s capabilities as a world-class healthcare provider — using digital technology to enhance person-to-person connections, natural spaces to boost healing, and clear patient pathways shaped by nature and dramatic design.
Safety Built Into Every System
Behind that architecture, HGA’s water quality commissioning work is ensuring the building’s water is safe before a single patient arrives.
Hospitals face unique waterborne illness risks. Patients recovering from cancer, organ disease, or respiratory conditions are especially vulnerable to bacteria like Legionella, which spreads through aerosolized water from showers, faucets, and cooling equipment. UPMC identified gaps in their existing process — inconsistent documentation, fragmented coordination during construction, and an unstructured handoff to building operations.
HGA’s response: a dedicated water quality commissioning role, active since early 2025, that:
- Oversees contractor-performed engineering controls
- Facilitates a cross-functional team including infection prevention and environmental health specialists
- Tracks water quality data over time
This embeds water safety into engineering commissioning from the start — not as a separate concern, but as core to building performance.
The Result
A more coordinated, data-driven path to occupancy, with milestones sequenced deliberately rather than assumed. The process is also becoming a repeatable standard for future UPMC projects.
From striking architecture to disciplined, documented systems behind the walls, HGA’s work gives UPMC — and its patients — confidence from day one.
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