• • 17 January 2017
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  •  Datum Editorial
• Hospitals , Health Centres , Sustainability , Modern Africana , African Modernity , African Modernism ,

From the Architects:
Global architectural and design firm Perkins+Will adds to its award-winning healthcare portfolio with the design of the new 465,560 square foot (43,252 square meter) 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 new hospital, now under construction, 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 contemporary medical equipment will provide the modern infrastructure needed to create connections between Ghana and the broader, global medical community. It will allow a radiologist at Johns Hopkins Medical Center to view information from Ghana and physicians can consult with each other across continents.

“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.”

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.

“The design was inspired by the Kente cloth, an icon of African heritage around the world 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, and vibrant colors throughout the building."

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