On Thursday, September 19, 2024, we kicked off the course NUA025 – Facility Management 2 in a somewhat unconventional way, with a field trip to the Bohunice campus of Brno University Hospital. The event was initiated by Ms. Renata Valentová, head of the central control room, who gave a presentation to the students on the organization and management of the agendas and activities within the hospital’s central control room. This was followed by a presentation from Tomáš Říha, head of operational investments, covering facility management with demonstrations of the implementation of the CAFM system, and the students were then given a tour of the control room and other technological areas of the hospital.
Although we expected that there would be no small-scale equipment in such a large complex, we were still surprised by the size of the HVAC systems, the power of the boilers, and the cooling units. However, the most astonishing feature was the pneumatic mail system, which transports not only paper documents but primarily biological samples between various departments. We were fascinated by how efficiently the pneumatic system works and that it is still in use in modern healthcare.
Students also realized that civil engineers are essential in hospitals, which broadens their career opportunities after graduation. The field trip was seen as a great opportunity to gain insight into the workings of a large medical facility, and students emphasized the value of the information and practical experiences they gained. Even though we spent more than two hours at the facility, some participants felt that the time for the tour was too short.
A big thank you to all the hospital staff who made time for us in their busy schedules and shared their knowledge and experience. Special thanks go to Renata Blahušová, Renata Valentová, and Tomáš Říha for organizing the entire trip. THANK YOU!
Zdenka Rosecká and the students of the Environmentally Advanced Buildings program, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Brno University of Technology