Known as a “pearl of the river and sea” the city of Nantong is located on the northern bank of the Yangtze River opposite Shanghai. Nantong’s unique location and natural resources have positioned the city as a new economic center resulting in significant growth and an accelerated pace of urban development. To meet the medical needs of this bourgeoning city, the City of Nantong desired a new, first-class general hospital to be built according to a five-year plan developed by the City to optimize the allocation of healthcare resources.
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Environmentally Conscious, Efficient and Modern
Gresham Smith’s winning design for the 4.5 million-square-foot, 2,600-bed general hospital focused on delivering an environmentally conscious, operationally efficient and modern facility that provides high-quality care and patient satisfaction.
Encouraging Communication and Collaboration
The sheer size of the new hospital required unique design solutions. The staff/research space is placed between the inpatient towers to allow researchers, clinicians and caregivers to collaborate as well as to minimize travel distance to patient care units. The bed towers will connect horizontally on every floor to research/education spaces and sit atop the diagnostic/treatment podium for efficient vertical circulation.
Integrated with Nature
The connected inpatient towers will surround the hospital’s beautifully landscaped central courtyard area while the orientation of the hospital allows the majority of patient rooms to face south to meet China’s building code. Designed with sustainability in mind, the extensive tiered podium green roofs feature roof gardens and walking trails and provide views of nature to those in the bed towers. The inpatient tower’s facade is inspired by Nantong’s rich tradition of textile design and features a color-coated metal sun shade. As perspective changes, the building’s colors will change, creating a silky, mesmerizing effect.
Designed for Safety, Adaptability and Flexibility
The hospital’s inpatient units were designed for patient safety to reduce the risk of falls as well as hospital acquired infections. The units were also designed for acuity adaptability along with flexibility to accommodate the various types of specialties and to allow the number of beds to change based on demand. Semi-private patient rooms can be converted into three-bed wards in the event of emergency situations. Decentralized nurse stations will place staff closer to patients, reducing steps and increasing patient-care time.
Public Circulation
The hospital’s circulation patterns are complex and yet efficient. To protect patient privacy and dignity, public circulation is carefully separated from inpatient and staff space. The building massing opens up toward the main entrance to facilitate clear and intuitive wayfinding for visitors and patients alike. Public amenities including the cafeteria, retail and pharmacy are located on the basement level, also situated around the courtyard to extend natural light and views to this level. A future subway station will be connected to the basement level offering convenient access for the public.
East Meets West
Bridging the gap between traditional Chinese pubic hospital design and the western model, our hybrid design will allow Nantong First People’s Hospital to improve clinical outcomes and operational efficiencies while enhancing the patient experience. Slated for completion by 2020, the hospital will include comprehensive acute and intensive care, research and education, emergency services, preventive care, rehabilitation services and other related functions.
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