A huge, complex project involving many facets of medical care and research in China is meant to be the vanguard hospital in a system of green-designed teaching hospitals to be built throughout the nation.
Designed by HMC Architects, the sprawling three million-sf Shunde Hospital of Southern Medical University, in China, is now open. It is the official pilot green hospital for development of China’s green guide for hospital design.
Completed in late 2017, the teaching hospital includes a 2,000-bed inpatient center, an ambulatory care center that can handle 6,000 patients daily, medical research and infectious disease buildings, and a cancer center.
HMC won the design contract for Shunde Hospital in a hotly contested international competition. The intent of the contest was to design a hospital that combines Western health care innovations with local Chinese practices.
The winning design was influenced by the 2002-2003 outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), which affected thousands of people and killed hundreds in Southern China.
Sustainable design helped optimize the hospital’s building performance.
“Sustainable design is a relatively new concept for this region’s medical centers,” says Kirk Rose, AIA, DBIA, Chief Practice Officer, Healthcare, HMC. “Our solution organizes a series of buildings around a dynamic, curved spine to create an ‘eco-atrium’ that has the capacity to handle 7,000 outpatient visits per day while minimizing infection risks.”
David Wakely, courtesy HMC Architects
David Wakely, courtesy HMC Architects
The complex’s innovative design features include an outdoor plaza that reflect Shunde’s tradition of waterways and terracotta-making. It’s a green, open, welcoming space that is used by the entire community.
Natural ventilation, stack effect, and chilled structural beams address cooling needs of the complex, while solar fins and photovoltaics help reduce the building’s energy use.
A naturally ventilated five-story atrium, water recycling, and natural daylighting enhance the building’s green design. Locally sourced materials were used in the construction process.
David Wakely, courtesy HMC Architects
Kiwi Information Technolgoy Co. Ltd., courtesy HMC Architects
David Wakely, courtesy HMC Architects
David Wakely, courtesy HMC Architects
David Wakely, courtesy HMC Architects
Kiwi Information Technolgoy Co. Ltd.
Kiwi Information Technolgoy Co. Ltd.
David Wakely, courtesy HMC Architects
Related Stories
Engineers | Jun 14, 2023
The high cost of low maintenance
Walter P Moore’s Javier Balma, PhD, PE, SE, and Webb Wright, PE, identify the primary causes of engineering failures, define proactive versus reactive maintenance, recognize the reasons for deferred maintenance, and identify the financial and safety risks related to deferred maintenance.
Healthcare Facilities | Jun 5, 2023
Modernizing mental health care in emergency departments: Improving patient outcomes
In today’s mental health crisis, there is a widespread shortage of beds to handle certain populations. Patients may languish in the ED for hours or days before they can be linked to an appropriate inpatient program.
Healthcare Facilities | Jun 1, 2023
High-rise cancer center delivers new model for oncology care
Atlanta’s 17-story Winship Cancer Institute at Emory Midtown features two-story communities that organize cancer care into one-stop destinations. Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) and May Architecture, the facility includes comprehensive oncology facilities—including inpatient beds, surgical capacity, infusion treatment, outpatient clinics, diagnostic imaging, linear accelerators, and areas for wellness, rehabilitation, and clinical research.
Healthcare Facilities | May 19, 2023
A new behavioral health facility in California targets net zero energy
Shortly before Mental Health Awareness Month in May, development and construction firm Skanska announced the topping out of California’s first behavioral health facility—and the largest in the nation—to target net zero energy. Located in Redwood City, San Mateo County, Calif., the 77,610-sf Cordilleras Health System Replacement Project is slated for completion in late 2024.
3D Printing | May 12, 2023
World’s first 3D-printed medical center completed
3D construction printing reached new heights this week as the world’s first 3D-printed medical center was completed in Thailand.
Sustainability | May 11, 2023
Let's build toward a circular economy
Eric Corey Freed, Director of Sustainability, CannonDesign, discusses the values of well-designed, regenerative buildings.
Digital Twin | May 8, 2023
What AEC professionals should know about digital twins
A growing number of AEC firms and building owners are finding value in implementing digital twins to unify design, construction, and operational data.
Design Innovation Report | Apr 27, 2023
BD+C's 2023 Design Innovation Report
Building Design+Construction’s Design Innovation Report presents projects, spaces, and initiatives—and the AEC professionals behind them—that push the boundaries of building design. This year, we feature four novel projects and one building science innovation.
Sustainability | Apr 20, 2023
13 trends, technologies, and strategies to expect in 2023
Biophilic design, microgrids, and decarbonization—these are three of the trends, technologies, and strategies IMEG’s market and service leaders believe are poised to have a growing impact on the built environment.
Design Innovation Report | Apr 19, 2023
HDR uses artificial intelligence tools to help design a vital health clinic in India
Architects from HDR worked pro bono with iKure, a technology-centric healthcare provider, to build a healthcare clinic in rural India.
