Perkins+Will adds to its healthcare portfolio with the design of the new 465,560-sf Ghana Ridge Hospital. The Government of Ghana selected the design-build team of Perkins+Will and Americaribe to create a new state-of-the-art hospital that will support the growing needs of the fast developing African country.
This is the second women and children’s hospital in Africa to be designed by Perkins+Will, preceded by the Kenya Women and Children's Wellness Centre in Nairobi.
The hospital will deliver modern healthcare facilities to women and children and will become the largest hospital in the country to date. The building, accommodating 600 beds and more than 12 surgical theaters, will be home to numerous hospital services including public health, accident and emergency, imaging, obstetrics, gynecology, dental, surgical, intensive care, laboratory, respiratory therapy, and administration.
“The design was inspired by the unique relationship between nature and color, and the cultural significance of space and journey found in Kenya. This relationship is beautifully represented through the Kente cloth, an icon of African heritage and part of the local weaving culture in Ghana,” said Patricia Bosch, Design Director. “Like the Kente cloth, the design makes use of patterning, layering, spatial complexities, and juxtaposition in its design. I wanted to carefully weave daylight throughout the facility and consider local context, scale, and materiality. The building represents the complexity and richness of a culture and its environment, a relationship with light, public and private spaces, and a place for healing based on inspiration from the village, family, and ultimately the embrace of a mother and child.”
The thoughtful design of the project addresses the site’s unique characteristics, climate, and programmatic needs. The program is arranged for optimal workflow and the building is designed as a system of components that perform with minimal maintenance.
Passively cooled breezeways, stairways, and public corridors, as well as naturally ventilated waiting areas lower energy consumption and create a healthy healing environment for patients.
Sustainable design aspects include rainwater harvesting, water reuse, controlled daylight harvesting, solar water heating, and the use of light colored exterior materials that have been locally sourced. Public transportation is integrated with an entrance that is clearly defined and welcoming for patients and visitors.
“Americaribe is committed to bringing the best quality care and facilities to the Americas and Africa,” said Jean-Baptiste Baudin de la Valette President of Americaribe. “We are one of the largest builders in the world and value our partnerships with the best design firms. We have worked hard to achieve this pivotal project, partnering with Xing bank and HSBC to deliver healthcare in this region.”
“Perkins+Will is honored to provide the Government of Ghana with its healthcare expertise, gained from designing hospital facilities around the world,” noted Jim Bynum, Healthcare Practice Leader. “The impact that modern and efficient healthcare services have on communities is profound. This building will change lives and give people access to care that they did not have previously.”
Perkins+Will’s first project in Africa began in 1999, when the firm was commissioned to design Universidade Agostinho Neto in Luanda, Angola – an ambitious national university adapted for a country in transition. In addition to the Ghana Ridge Hospital, the firm is also currently working on the Kenya Women and Children's Wellness Centre in Nairobi, Kenya; Ubora Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya; and Capital Health Surgical Center in Abuja, Nigeria. With experience in Algeria, Burundi, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, Tunisia, and Uganda, Perkins+Will has developed a sensitivity to the unique cultural and design aesthetics of the continent.
Related Stories
Giants 400 | Jan 3, 2022
2021 Government Sector Giants: Top architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S. government buildings sector
Stantec, Jacobs, Turner Construction, and Hensel Phelps top BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest government sector architecture, engineering, and construction firms, as reported in the 2021 Giants 400 Report.
Architects | Dec 20, 2021
Digital nomads are influencing design
As our spaces continue to adapt to our future needs, we’ll likely see more collaborative, communal zones where people can relax, shop, and work.
Architects | Dec 17, 2021
What I wish I had learned in architecture school
Bradford Perkins, FAIA, offers a 3-point plan for upgrading architecture education.
Urban Planning | Dec 15, 2021
EV is the bridge to transit’s AV revolution—and now is the time to start building it
Thinking holistically about a technology-enabled customer experience will make transit a mode of choice for more people.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Dec 15, 2021
Trends in sports stadium construction, with Turner Construction's Dewey Newton
Turner Construction's Dewey Newton discusses trends in sports stadium renovation and construction with BD+C's John Caulfield. Newton is a Senior Vice President who heads up Turner Construction’s Sports Group.
Healthcare Facilities | Dec 15, 2021
COVID-19 has altered the speed and design of healthcare projects, perhaps irrevocably
Healthcare clients want their projects up and running quicker, a task made more complicated by the shortage of skilled labor in many markets.
Healthcare Facilities | Dec 15, 2021
MEP design considerations for rural hospitals
Rural hospitals present unique opportunities and challenges for healthcare facility operators. Oftentimes, the infrastructure and building systems have not been updated for years and require significant improvements in order to meet today’s modern medical demands. Additionally, as these smaller, more remote hospitals are acquired by larger regional and national healthcare systems, the first step by new ownership is often to update and rehabilitate the building. But how can this be done thoughtfully, economically, and efficiently in ways that allow the engineering and facility staff to adapt to the changes? And how can the updates accurately reflect the specific needs of rural communities and the afflictions with which these areas most commonly face?
Architects | Dec 13, 2021
Dan Hart, FAIA, inaugurated AIA 2022 President
Dan Hart will be the AIA's 98th President.
Architects | Dec 13, 2021
MASS Design Group receives 2022 AIA Architecture Firm Award
The annual AIA Architecture Firm Award is the highest honor the AIA bestows on an architecture practice.
Architects | Dec 13, 2021
2022 AIA Gold Medal awarded to Angela Brooks and Lawrence Scarpa
The Gold Medal honors an individual or pair whose significant body of work has had a lasting influence on the theory and practice of architecture.