Artist's impression of The Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.
Particularly challenging was the harsh climate in the Middle East. In order to reduce the overall energy load required to keep the hospital cool, the team developed a 'building respiratory system'.
"By utilising a dual curtain wall design, we were able to achieve a 'stack effect', which allows for the circulation of air between the glass walls to protect the hospital from the climate," explains Wu.
Warm air naturally to rises through the space between the curtain walls and directed is through the top of the building. This technology allows the building to significantly reduce its required cooling load.
In addition to this, reuse of grey water and storm water will reduce the dependency on desalinated water, and photovoltaics will assist electrical loads during the day.
The sustainable design features in the building help reduce stress, both on the patients and on the area's natural resources.
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Roof gardens reduce heat gain and act as 'healing gardens' designed to promote patient recovery.
"[The] views out to the exterior and varied intensities of natural light will raise spirits and encourage a sense of hope in patients," says Wu.
Best practice
Wu is passionate in his belief that both the staff and the building are essential to create a successful hospital, saying the research team helps to create opportunities for architecture to assist in the betterment of patient outcomes.
"Today more than ever, advances in technology, changing demographics, globalisation and novel new drug deliveries are changing the way hospitals are planned," says Wu.
Wu calls for architects and designers to understand the operational model and language of each individual hospital, and then to use the understanding of significant healthcare trends to help inform the design.
"We are committed to delivering innovation through design," he says.
"We have the privilege to be working on the most important building in the world. The number of lives to be saved, and the sick to be treated is infinite. This project symbolises humanity, hope and a stewardship of global community."
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