Health & Wellbeing

Cork Maternity Hospital

Brief

The new fifty million euros Maternity Hospital, linked to the existing Cork University Hospital, was designed to replace three existing facilities in the vicinity and to introduce the first purpose built neo-natal unit to the city of Cork.  The accommodation includes sixty six obstetric beds, twenty pregnancy related gynaecology beds and a thirty-four cot neonatology unit.  In addition to the supporting treatment and diagnostic facilities, the project also houses the Regional College of Midwifery and an academic unit for about one hundred undergraduates.  The building contains mainly 'stand-alone' clinical facilities but was required to be physically linked to the existing building in order to receive all the necessary support and FM services.

Response

The new building sits on previously open ground to the south side of the existing University Hospital (designed by Keppie in the early 1970s).  The curved triangular shape evolved as a direct need to maintain the views from the existing ward blocks and recognising the need to minimise the impact of the construction on the running of a live hospital.
The design of the building with five storeys above a basement car park allows for the segregation of patient flows by locating the high technology birthing and theatre suites and neo-natal department next to the ground floor ambulance entrance, while the main visitor and outpatient entrance is directly to the first floor.  The in-patient wards are located on the upper floors of the building to maximise views of the surrounding landscape.

Outcome

The form of the new building maximises the opportunity to optimise the spectacular views to the south of the city.  The triangular shape also allows excellent clinical flows on the ground floor between the operating theatres, birthing suites and the neo-natal department.  The placement of wards at higher levels and the academic accommodation at roof level, provides suitable levels of segregation and appropriate patient dignity throughout the building.  The building was designed in collaboration with local Cork architects Reddy O'Riordan Staehli and was the recipient of the RIAI Regional Award 2006.

 

Team