Project case study
Utilizing collaborative value management to drive alignment and smarter outcomes
For the University of Virginia Health System’s University Hospital Expansion, our team led an organized, collaborative value management process designed to align scope, performance and budget from the earliest design stages. By embedding value management throughout preconstruction, our team helped UVA Health move forward with clarity and confidence—while protecting both project goals and long-term value.
Beginning in schematic design, our team led an organized and creative value management effort focused on achieving essential project functions at the lowest total cost over the life of the facility. Working closely with the design team, the preconstruction group generated more than 235 ideas, identifying $59 million in deductive alternate concepts during schematic design alone. This early engagement established a strong foundation for aligning scope and budget before key design decisions became fixed.
As the project progressed into preliminary design, the team continued refining concepts and evaluating opportunities, uncovering an additional $33.6 million in potential cost savings. Rather than treating value management as a one-time exercise, our team applied continuous costing as the design evolved—so they could track impacts in real time and maintain momentum toward the target budget.
This collaborative approach extended through the 50 percent and 90 percent construction document phases, where concepts were further refined and $9 million in accepted value management was achieved. These efforts brought the project to within 0.5 percent of the base estimate. Design‑assist subcontractors and a carefully planned procurement strategy played a critical role, ensuring constructability insights and real‑time market knowledge informed decisions at every stage.
Through early engagement, disciplined analysis and sustained collaboration, Skanska helped the University of Virginia Health System navigate complexity with confidence. The result was a hospital expansion positioned to move forward with financial clarity—demonstrating how value management, when embedded throughout preconstruction, can protect both project performance and long‑term outcomes.
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