Background

In September 2014, following a bidding process, Ministry of Public Works commissioned PACE to undertake concept design services and produce design/build tender documents for the New Maternity Hospital. The hospital was to be located in Sabah Medical region, and the Consultant’s design brief was clear. The utilisation of the project’s 64,000 m² waterfront site facing Kuwait Bay had to be optimised, and the mandate was to create a world class specialist maternity hospital to meet Kuwait’s growing healthcare needs.

The new facility had to be a culturally appropriate, with sustainably designed contemporary and efficiently engineered medical and electro-mechanical systems. It was to accommodate a comprehensive programme of international standard in-patient and outpatient maternity care facilities, with a complete range of clinical and nonclinical support facilities.

Site utilization and Development Scope

The huge complex comprises four main buildings, each dedicated to a unique purpose: The Main Hospital; an Annex Building; car park structure; and a large central utility plant. The central component is the main hospital building which comprises three in-patient towers that are placed above a 6-floor diagnostic and treatment podium.

The Annex Building houses out-patient clinics, a medical training center, auditorium and a large emergency department, as well as administrative support facilities and basement parking. The multi-storey car park is a separate building; and the stand-alone central utility plant is linked to the hospital via a large service tunnel. The scale of the development is grand, with a built up area of almost 360,000 m².

Design Approach and

In their conception of this huge medical complex, PACE wanted to emphasise the site’s proximity to Kuwait Bay and the views it offered. These were obvious influences, but more importantly the planning had to comply with infection control codes of Ministry of Health, and respect international guidelines of Facilities Guidelines Institute (FGI). There had to be seamless circulation between the various new components, and with the adjacent existing Maternity Hospital. This unique location offered the opportunity to enjoy a direct sea view, and in fact over 90% of the in-patient rooms enjoy this advantage. This was achieved by careful positioning of the patient tower; and well-studied internal planning to enhance the healing environment.

The articulation of interconnected components projects a strong presence within the Sabah Medical Region, and when viewed from the sea, the entire complex is a visually striking architectural composition.

Components

The project’s component mix is also quite impressive. The Main Hospital, with an area of just over 232,000 m2, comprises three towers. These accommodate 460 in-patient rooms; two intensive care units (ICUs) for 249 neo-natal and 80 adult beds respectively; and 60 labour and delivery rooms. In addition, there are 28 operating rooms to cater to a range of procedures including for gynaecology, C-section, IVF and emergency services. An outpatient and diagnostic facility provides over 80 specialised healthcare services.

Also as would be expected, the complex is complemented with a wide array of medical support provisions, such as fully automated pharmacy, a fullfacility radiology department as well as a range of central facilities which include the main laboratory, sterilization unit and well-equipped kitchen and laundry. The Annex Building, with an area of over 5600 m2, is also an important component. It comprises outpatient clinics, a training center and the hospital’s administrative facilities.

The central utility plant building, with 3 levels of electromechanical equipment, and a services tunnel linking it to the hospital complex, is a necessary provision for such a large medical facility. The 8 levels of an independent parking structure accommodate 1220 cars, and the two basement levels beneath the Annex Building provide a further 537 parking spaces. In total, the hospital is served by about 1750 parking spaces.

Interconnectivity, Massing and Design Features

Seamless interconnection between the new components and existing hospital was a critical consideration. Various pedestrian bridges facilitate this integration and together they help create a cohesive healthcare campus. Two separate bridges, both with travellators, connect the Annex Building to the Main Hospital and existing Maternity Hospital. Two other bridges link the car park building with the new and existing hospitals. The integrated massing of the complex is enhanced by careful exterior and interior design, which have been conceived with quality and healing in mind. The objective was to create bright and tastefully detailed interior spaces with appropriate choices of colours and fittings and, accordingly, sustainably produced and medically appropriate materials, finishes, furniture and equipment have been utilized throughout. This is reflected in the images of the wide variety of rooms, facilities, lobbies and special components shown here.

Engineering and Building Services

A sophisticated combination of structural and sustainably designed services engineering systems complement the design of this complex. Structural systems and concrete mixes of various grades were utilised to meet specific loading, performance and stability demands. Tension piles and reinforced concrete raft foundations provide the required stability and the superstructure comprises gravity columns, shear walls, and reinforced concrete and hollow-core slabs. Precast double-tees have been used in the car-park building. The four link bridges are essentially steel structures.

Another significant feature of the complex is a 320 m long sea-wall along the site’s entire shoreline. As would expect, the development also incorporates an extensive array of sustainably designed and advanced electromechanical and special central systems.

Its total cooling demand is about 12,300 tonnes of refrigeration, which is backed by a large central utility plant building and comprehensive integrated environmental control systems. There is also a very wide range of normal, special and medical systems, as well as carefully designed equipment provisions and appurtenances. All systems are commensurate with the varying needs of a specialised medical facility. The total power demand of the development is 37 MW and this is supplied through five electrical substations. The wide array of electrical and low voltage systems cover all necessary requirements for a sophisticated state-of-the-art medical facility. Included amongst these are 100% emergency power supply, and a comprehensive ICT infrastructure.

Also, the building has been provided with advanced security, surveillance and access control systems, with various other special installations. Furthermore, 64 elevators and 8 travellators are distributed throughout the sprawling campus to facilitate staff, patients and visitor movement.

In conclusion, it is clear that the New Maternity Hospital provides state-of-the-art facilities for diagnosis and treatment of obstetrics and gynaecology patients, all supplemented with a major neonatal unit and backed up by a wide array of medical, engineering and administrative support facilities.