What to do when there is seemingly no room to grow? Seoul National University Hospital, a prestigious medical, research and education institution in South Korea, needed to add clinic space in their central hospital—the cornerstone of a campus that includes specialty hospitals, labs, research and education facilities. Because the existing campus was essentially at-capacity, there was virtually no space for a new vertical facility. With no option to build up, Gresham Smith architects and engineers crafted a complex medical mall design solution by looking down.

Client

Seoul National University Hospital Medical Mall

Location

Seoul, South Korea

Project Type

Healthcare

Accolades

Showcase, Citation of Merit Award, Healthcare Design magazine

6

stories below grade

3

floors of outpatient clinics

3

level parking garage

A Peek Below the Surface

A Peek Below the Surface

Our design concept places six-stories below grade, including three floors of outpatient clinics, retail and support spaces and a three-level parking garage, all with a focus on flexibility, intuitive wayfinding and expandability.
Aesthetically Pleasing to the Core

Aesthetically Pleasing to the Core

The facility sits at the core of the site and connects the surrounding functional hospital, labs, research and education facilities while maintaining a picturesque setting for the historic Western-style hospital building.
A Non-Subterranean Feel

A Non-Subterranean Feel

We designed the mostly below-grade space to feel light and natural through the inclusion of a courtyard and skylights. Expansive windows also bring natural light into the interior of the clinics. By creating a focus on nature and architecture through excavation and the south-facing courtyard, the perception of the building as being underground is diminished, establishing a healthy and vibrant aesthetic.
A Simple, Sweeping Arc

A Simple, Sweeping Arc

As the project would connect to many other hospitals on site, we took care to understand the relationships and circulation paths between the different buildings. Our consideration of the site’s overall plan, the importance of pedestrian traffic and how the campus might change in the future created a stronger connection between all campus functions. Despite site limitations and structural constraints, we found the ultimate design solution in the simple sweeping arc centered on the original hospital at the core of the site.

Gallery

Project Contact

Our team designs with genuine care for ingenious solutions.

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Jim Langlois, AIA, LEED AP
Jim Langlois, AIA, LEED AP
Executive Vice President/Market Vice President, Healthcare