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
| May 11, 2012
CRSI appoints Brace chairman
Stevens also elected to board of directors and vice-chair.
| May 11, 2012
Dempster named to AIA College of Fellows
Altoon Partners’ technical and construction services leader honored for his contributions.
| May 11, 2012
AIA launches education and training portal
New portal to host Contract Documents training, education resources in one convenient place.
| May 10, 2012
Chapter 7 When Modern Becomes Historic: Preserving the Modernist Building Envelope
This AIA CES Discovery course explores the special reconstruction questions posed by Modern-era buildings.
| May 10, 2012
Chapter 6 Energy Codes + Reconstructed Buildings: 2012 and Beyond
Our experts analyze the next generation of energy and green building codes and how they impact reconstruction.
| May 10, 2012
Chapter 5 LEED-EB and Green Globes CIEB: Rating Sustainable Reconstruction
Certification for existing buildings under these two rating programs has overtaken that for new construction.
| May 10, 2012
Chapter 4 Business Case for High-Performance Reconstructed Buildings
Five reconstruction projects in one city make a bottom-line case for reconstruction across the country.
| May 10, 2012
Chapter 3 How Building Technologies Contribute to Reconstruction Advances
Building Teams are employing a wide variety of components and systems in their reconstruction projects.
| May 10, 2012
Chapter 2 Exemplary High-Performance Reconstruction Projects
Several case studies show how to successfully renovate existing structures into high-performance buildings.
| May 9, 2012
Chapter 1 Reconstruction: ‘The 99% Solution’ for Energy Savings in Buildings
As a share of total construction activity reconstruction has been on the rise in the U.S. and Canada in the last few years, which creates a golden opportunity for extensive energy savings.