XL Construction and RMW Architects successfully secured the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland ASB project by proposing an innovative mass timber design. UCSF Health embraced both the sustainable approach and the collaborative delivery model, making XL/RMW the ideal team to bring the vision to life.

However, the project faced multiple challenges, including budget constraints, a complex permitting process, a tight schedule, rising material costs, and evolving interior programming needs. The team worked diligently to drive costs down while maintaining the project’s integrity. According to XL Project Executive Terry Wong, the initial budget exceeded UCSF’s expectations, but trust in the collaborative value engineering process allowed the team to find cost-effective solutions.

A key tool in navigating these challenges was Join, a digital collaborative project delivery platform. Initially unfamiliar to RMW Principal Caitlin Pastori’s team, Join quickly proved to be an essential resource for bridging communication gaps between designers, contractors, and owners. XL Senior Design Build Manager Corrie Messinger highlighted how critical real-time decision-making was in streamlining the design cycle and keeping the project on track.

Despite the hurdles, the innovative mass timber approach and strong collaboration between XL Construction, RMW, and UCSF Health led to a successful, budget-conscious, and efficiently executed project. This case study highlights the power of technology, teamwork, and sustainable design in modern construction.

Check out more news, articles and blogs here