AZ Jan Portaels breaks ground for hospital of the future
On the former Renault site, at the rear of the Vilvoorde station, a brand new hospital will open its doors in 2027, ticking all the boxes of the “hospital of the future.” VK architects+engineers, part of Sweco, and Wiegerinck are responsible for the design of a health house that can address current and future challenges within the Flemish healthcare landscape.
The new building, with 300 beds, is notably smaller than the current infrastructure. Two blocks form the basis, connected by a high and bright entrance. One side accommodates hospitalizations and consultations, while the other side is high-tech for examinations and procedures, featuring hot floors, emergency services, imaging, and an oncology day center. Both blocks are partially set in greenery and partially in the city, creating a transition between the two landscapes.
This new, efficient hospital will be the home of a compact, agile, and sustainable “health house,” where (the care for) the patient is central. Around 950 healthcare professionals, including 140 doctors, 750 staff members, and 60 volunteers, provide personal, basic-specialist care to all patients in its healthcare region on a daily basis.
Taking into account the developments in the healthcare landscape, the hospital will fully focus on curative, chronic, and preventive care. Patients only want to stay in a hospital when it is necessary for their recovery. In the coming years, a 50% increase in day hospitalizations is expected in the care region of AZ Jan Portaels.
Every design decision takes the total cost of ownership (TCO) into account. This way, we can efficiently manage the available resources in terms of patient care.
Innovation as a Guideline
Innovatie in the building concept
The construction is maximally flexible due to the modular building concept. A dynamic care environment will be able to respond to the latest medical innovations and the needs and expectations of patients.
The entire building will be realized according to the same pattern and dimensions within a ring structure. This allows rooms to easily be repurposed for new treatment methods, departments to scale up or down smoothly, or to implement one-way traffic or open isolation departments during a pandemic.
The building is infused with the ‘healing environment’ concept. It is designed to maximize the well-being, recovery, and comfort of patients. For instance, consider the presence of natural light in every room, views of either the city park or the patio, thoughtful color and material use for the interior, the incorporation of quiet, green spaces throughout the building, and access to rooftop gardens for patients admitted to the palliative and psychiatric departments, among others.
Innovation in Sustainability
The hospital will be ‘all-electric.’ A first in Belgian healthcare! It will also make maximum use of renewable energy sources: solar energy, underground energy storage via a ground water heat exchange system, heat recovery, and rainwater recovery and reuse.
Innovation in Technology and Processes
A thoughtful deployment of modern technology allows healthcare staff more time for direct patient care. The hospital is exploring options such as robots and telemonitoring. A patient portal provides patients with useful information about medical procedures or the ability to manage their own consultation appointments.
In addition, there will be co-creation with leading companies to explore how to optimize logistics flows and the delivery of medications. For instance, there will also be a kitchen for each department instead of a central kitchen for the entire hospital. Due to the trend toward outpatient care, the number of prepared meals will be lower in the future. The departmental kitchens will allow us to better meet the needs of patients and accommodate diversity (meal timing, type of meal, etc.).
Construction to Start
With the groundbreaking, work starts officially in October 2024. In the spring of 2025, foundation work will commence, after which the building – thanks to the specific ring structure, patterns, and dimensions – will rise relatively quickly.
