Bobby Otten has been named senior director of Space and Facilities Planning. In this new role, Otten will oversee ongoing construction projects at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, planning of new construction and renovation of existing Medical Center space.
Otten succeeds Ken Browning, who has overseen Space and Facilities Planning for several years. Otten and Browning will share a transition period of several months and Browning will continue to oversee the ongoing addition at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.
Browning, who has been with VUMC since 1984, stepped down from his role as the leader of Facilities Management, handing over those reins to Gary Streaty, vice president of Facilities Management, in 2015 to focus on the work of the Space and Facilities office and supervise ongoing projects such as the expansion of Children’s Hospital.
“I am both excited and humbled by this opportunity, and want to thank the leaders before me for all the work they have done,” Otten said.
“Given the added complexities associated with many of our new construction projects and renovations, we are fortunate to have a talented leader already in our ranks to assume this important role,” said John Manning Jr., Chief Operating Officer and Corporate Chief of Staff. “Bobby has a wealth of experience, having been involved in the planning and execution of numerous projects here. I look forward to working with him as we continue to expand and improve the Medical Center’s physical space to keep pace with the growing demand for our services.”
In addition to the expansion of Children’s Hospital, other ongoing construction projects at VUMC include a planned conversion of several floors of Medical Center East into inpatient units, renovation and refurbishment of laboratory space in Medical Center North and the construction of the new home of the Clinical Research Center in the second floor of the Round Wing.
Otten says he views managing multiple projects at a dynamic place like VUMC as a welcome challenge.
“It’s a new challenge and I enjoy new challenges,” he said. “By nature, architects are problem-solvers, and that’s why I’m excited about the new role.”
