Dave Dierking is a healthcare construction project manager with over 30 years of experience delivering complex projects for major health systems across the United States. As a healthcare construction project manager, his expertise in ICRA protocols, infection control, and construction in occupied medical facilities has made him a trusted advisor to Northwestern Medicine, Advocate Health Care, Ascension Health, Edward-Elmhurst Health, and Catholic Health Initiatives.
What sets Dave apart as a healthcare construction project manager is his unique combination of technical expertise, regulatory knowledge, and operational experience. He’s not just a project manager—he’s a healthcare facilities executive who understands how construction impacts patient care, clinical operations, and organizational strategy. See web postings.
Areas of Expertise
Healthcare Construction in Occupied Facilities
Specialized in managing construction projects in active hospitals where patient safety, infection control, and continuous operations are paramount. Expert in ICRA (Infection Control Risk Assessment) protocols and FGI Guidelines.
Large-Scale Capital Projects
Successfully delivered projects ranging from $6 million outpatient clinics to $1+ billion hospital campuses, including replacement hospitals, bed towers, operating room renovations, and medical office buildings.
Regulatory Compliance
Deep knowledge of Joint Commission standards, CMS regulations, NFPA Life Safety Code, and healthcare-specific building codes. Proven track record helping facilities achieve and maintain compliance.
Strategic Facilities Planning
Experience conducting master facility plans, feasibility studies, and strategic planning for healthcare campuses ranging from critical access hospitals to 1.5 million SF academic medical centers.
Professional Experience
Dave’s career as a healthcare construction project manager spans three decades of progressively responsible roles in healthcare construction and facilities management, working with some of the nation’s most respected health systems.
Current Work
Through his consultancy, King Project Management, Dave provides specialized healthcare construction and facilities management consulting services. Recent engagements include conducting facility management and regulatory consulting for critical access hospitals, providing Joint Commission compliance consulting for a 1.2 million SF, 464-bed county hospital to correct environment of care and life safety deficiencies, and serving as interim facility director for a 300-bed hospital where his responsibilities spanned facility leadership, construction management, regulatory oversight, and operations improvement.
Other recent work includes leading construction project management for a nationally recognized children’s hospital undergoing a major campus transformation. This landmark project encompasses a $1+ billion portfolio, including a 700,000 SF Outpatient Building, a 600,000 SF Clinical Office Building, and a 400-space underground parking garage. In this role, Dave developed a comprehensive contractor safety handbook and modernized the organization’s design and construction policies to reflect current best practices.
Health Systems Leadership
Dave’s extensive experience with major health systems began at Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) as Vice President of Healthcare Projects, where he spearheaded planning for a $600 million replacement hospital, medical office building, and ambulatory surgery center in a mixed-use development. He also managed multiple facilities projects at a 664-bed academic medical center and led the planning and development of a $200 million, 400,000 SF technology building.
During his decade at Edward-Elmhurst Health as a healthcare construction project manager, Dave managed a diverse portfolio of projects, demonstrating his ability to deliver complex renovations while maintaining full operations. Notable projects included leading the planning and design of a $70 million, five-story building to provide additional ICU beds and clinic space, spearheading a $13.5 million surgery renovation of approximately 20,000 SF while maintaining 24/7 operations, and successfully converting a 45,000 SF office building into a fully functional outpatient clinic.
At Hammes Company, Dave served as Project Executive, managing some of the firm’s most significant healthcare construction initiatives. He designed and constructed a 320,000 SF replacement hospital with 120 beds ($151 million), led a surgery department renovation encompassing 30 operating rooms ($24 million) that came in $2.3 million under budget while maintaining 24/7 operations, performed master facility planning for a 1.5 million SF, 600-bed hospital, and managed the programming, schematic design, and design development for a 221-bed, 330,000 SF bed tower valued at $265 million.
Facilities Operations Excellence
Dave’s operational expertise was forged during his 12 years at Advocate Health Care as Director of Engineering Services, where he led facility services, environmental services, security, groundskeeping, and construction across 12 locations, overseeing 60 associates. During this tenure, Dave transformed departments with historical quality and morale challenges into high-performing teams recognized for excellent customer service and patient satisfaction. His operational improvements included reducing annual maintenance and housekeeping expenses by $200,000 by eliminating outside contracts and establishing efficient in-house programs. His leadership was recognized with a management score in the 99th percentile on the Morehead Associates survey, measuring employee supervision, recognition, work environment, and satisfaction.
Education
Dave holds a Master of Business Administration from Loyola University Chicago and a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. This combination of engineering fundamentals and business acumen provides the analytical and strategic framework that guides his approach to complex healthcare construction projects.
Professional Certifications
Dave maintains the CHC (Certified Healthcare Constructor) credential from the American Hospital Association, a specialized certification demonstrating expertise in healthcare construction project management, including infection control, life safety, and regulatory compliance. His CHFM (Certified Healthcare Facility Manager) certification, also from the AHA, recognizes his comprehensive knowledge of healthcare facility management, including operations, maintenance, regulatory compliance, and safety.
As a Senior ASHE Member (SASHE), Dave has been recognized by the American Society for Health Care Engineering for his significant contributions to the healthcare engineering and facilities management profession.
Honors & Awards
In 2018, Dave received the Full Member of the Year Award from the Healthcare Engineers Society of Northern Illinois (HESNI), recognizing his outstanding contributions to the advancement of healthcare engineering and facilities management in the Northern Illinois region.
Earlier in his career, Dave received the national Emerging Leader Award from the American Society for Health Care Engineering (ASHE) in 2011, recognizing his leadership potential and significant contributions to the healthcare engineering profession.
Professional Leadership & Affiliations
Dave has served the healthcare facilities profession through extensive volunteer leadership, most notably with the American Society for Health Care Engineering (ASHE) and its Chicago chapter, the Healthcare Engineers Society of Northern Illinois (HESNI).
For over a decade (2012-2024), Dave served as an Annual Conference Planning Abstract Reviewer for ASHE’s national conference, evaluating presentation submissions and helping shape the educational program for healthcare facilities professionals nationwide.
His leadership journey with HESNI demonstrates sustained commitment to the profession, progressing through increasingly responsible roles: Secretary (2009-2010), President-Elect (2011), President (2012-2013), Immediate Past President (2014-2015), and Legacy Chair (2016-2017). This extensive leadership experience guiding one of ASHE’s largest and most active chapters enabled him to foster professional development and networking for healthcare facilities professionals across Northern Illinois.
Notable Project Achievements
Throughout his career, Dave has delivered landmark healthcare projects that showcase his ability to manage complex construction in challenging environments:
Saint Joseph Hospital Replacement Hospital | London, KY
Provided healthcare construction project manager services for 52-acre greenfield replacement hospital project. The 325,000 SF facility includes 150 beds, six operating rooms, and 24-bed emergency department. Successfully delivered major healthcare infrastructure project from planning through occupancy.
St. Vincent Hospital OR Renovation | Indianapolis, IN
Renovated 30 operating rooms while maintaining full 24/7 surgical operations. Project included installation of new booms, surgical lights, video systems, and upgraded HVAC for improved airflow and infection control. Demonstrated expertise in complex phasing and infection control protocols in active surgical environments.
Focal Point Community Campus | Chicago, IL
Provided planning services for developing replacement hospital, medical office building, and ambulatory surgery center within innovative mixed-use development providing integrated community services. Strategic planning for complex multi-phase healthcare campus development.
Edward-Elmhurst Outpatient Center | Naperville, IL
As a healthcare construction project manager, converted a 43,000 SF vacant office building into a modern outpatient clinic. Created an efficient layout with group meeting rooms, patient consultation rooms, and medical group offices. Successful adaptive reuse project demonstrating the ability to transform existing structures for healthcare use.
Beyond Work
When he’s not managing complex healthcare construction projects, Dave is an accomplished marathon runner and triathlete. He has completed major marathons including Chicago, Boston (as a qualifier), Big Sur, Grandma’s Marathon, Indianapolis, and Marine Corps Marathon.
The discipline, endurance, and strategic planning required for marathon training mirror the qualities that make Dave successful in managing healthcare construction projects—setting clear goals, maintaining focus over the long haul, and pushing through challenges to achieve exceptional results.
Let's Discuss Your Project
With over 30 years as a healthcare construction project manager and a proven track record with major health systems, Dave brings the specialized knowledge your project needs to succeed.
Ready to reduce risk and deliver your project on time and on budget?