Hospital Nova, Central Finland

In 2010, the board of Finland's KSSHP hospital sought a new facility that would combine a high level of international expertise in healthcare with outstanding architectural quality. EGM architects, in collaboration with Finnish architectural firm JKMM Architects, developed the design for this new hospital.

The KSSHP hospital is located in Jyväskylä, Central Finland, and serves as the hub of a healthcare region comprising 21 municipalities. This area—nearly as large as the Netherlands—is Finland’s largest non-academic healthcare region. The KSSHP hospital provides nearly all medical specialties, invests in education and research, and collaborates closely with other hospitals in the region, including the academic hospital in Kuopio.

Patients are welcomed in a healing environment

The patient at the centre

The healthcare vision of KSSHP places the patient’s needs at its core. The hospital encourages an active role for patients in their care process to deliver the most optimal and personalised care. This vision guided the design of the new hospital. Given the vast distances in the region, the building is equipped to warmly welcome patients into a healing environment and provide a comfortable stay that supports rehabilitation. The facility has a gross floor area of 102,000 m² and 383 single-patient rooms. Its surgical complex includes 24 operating theatres, including a hybrid operating room.

Compact and clear design

Although the hospital is expansive, its design is compact. The clear layout and human scale ensure that both patients and staff can easily navigate the space. The design is highly sustainable and supports efficient medical and logistical processes. Intelligent, advanced technologies are integrated into the design, including a fully automated waste transportation system and an automated trolley system for logistical transportation.

Awards

European Healthcare Design Awards 2022 – Winnaar – Healthcare Design (> 25.000 m²)

FRAME Awards 2021 – Shortlisted – Institutions

_{Photography: Ecophon, Hannu Rytky, Martin Sommerschield, Pauliina Salonen, Tuomas Uusheimo}

_{Video: © Tapio Snellman}