Zeidler Partnership Architects: Assuta Medical Center Is Shortlisted in Healthcare Category at World Architecture Festival 2009

Designing an international healthcare facility requires an understanding of the particular site and the local culture in order to understand the nature of the project. The design process for the Assuta project successfully merged patient expectations with the hospital's objectives by integrating the site, culture and medical systems. "One of the key design challenges was using the building to connect the park and the city," Tarek El-Khatib said. He further explained, "Our desire to create a connection between the welcoming healing environment on the interior and the natural beauty of the exterior site was achieved by a large glass concourse overlooking the park." The long plan of the hospital is cut through in two places creating a U-shaped public space for visitors, patients and staff. This pattern of the public space forms the main circulation spine of the building both horizontally and vertically.

The Assuta Medical Center's main services are both invasive and non-invasive, diagnostic and procedural. They include, in phase one, outpatient and inpatient facilities with 16 highly innovative Operating Rooms, 27 Intensive Care beds, 230 acute care beds, 40 day surgery beds, Imaging, Catheter Labs, Radiation Therapy and 25 Dialysis Positions. The new center will add significantly to the capacity of the existing 6 Assuta facilities in Israel providing state-of-the-art medical services. The design of this facility reflects the integration of technology, spiritual needs, cultural spaces, and the environment down to even the smallest details helping to create a unique medical experience.

About Zeidler Partnership Architects

Zeidler Partnership Architects has been established in Toronto for almost 60 years and today has twelve other offices worldwide. There is approximately 220 staff, many of whom have been with the firm for 10 to 30+ years. With more than 136 national and international design awards, the firm's projects cover the entire range of architectural, urban and interior design. The scale of projects ranges from large, mixed-use complexes, office towers, healthcare projects, residential and hotel buildings to small renovations. The firm's major body of work is located in Canada and the United States with a significant international presence developing in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. For more information about the firm visit: www.zeidlerpartnership.com.