Erasmus Medical Centre Rotterdam NL

Erasmus Medical Centre Rotterdam NL by EGM Architects
In the heart of Rotterdam, the largest university medical centre in the Netherlands has been constructed: the Erasmus MC. On the site of the existing hospital, a new complex has been realised, where healthcare, research and education all come together. The new building allows the Erasmus MC to transform itself from a collection of detached buildings connected by pedestrian bridges, into a compact, efficient and integrated whole. Improvement and innovation in the care of today and the health of tomorrow; that is one of the philosophies of the Erasmus MC. Connection is one of the core values of the Erasmus MC. Essentially, the hospital is a medical city within a city, with streets, squares, greenery and facades with an urban flair. Connecting the outer edges of the hospital to the city are the glass roofed outdoor areas, the atriums. And the 120 m high office tower fits right into Rotterdam’s skyline.
One important component of the new Erasmus MC is the glass roofed public area. This space, at one point a 300 m long, 20 m wide passageway, connects the existing buildings with the new building. All of the hospital departments can be easily accessed from here. The various facilities are no longer spread out, but linked together and interwoven between the departments for outpatient care and for diagnostics, the ICU and the operating theatre. The facilities are organised so that the outpatient facilities and emergency room are located downstairs in the most dynamic environment, whereas the nursing rooms enjoy the tranquillity of the upper floors. The public area offers structure and an overview. The atrium provides an orientation point as well as natural light to the building facades, even in the areas located at the lowest levels. In the outpatient facilities and the nursing ward, the waiting rooms, corridors and stairwells are all located along the facade of the building. This offers views of the passageway, the atrium, the city and the greenery, helping to reduce stress levels experienced while waiting and encouraging the use of the stairs.
The hospital works with patient-related themes, where the atrium and the connecting intersections form the heart of every theme. Patients can always find what they need for their specific concerns. In addition, the hospital only contains single patient rooms. This contributes to the recovery process by improving privacy, tranquillity and hygiene. As far as possible, the nursing ward and the outpatient facilities share the same layout. The uniform layout is extended throughout the entire building shell, providing a sense of familiarity, flexibility and efficiency. In addition, the shell of the building is separate from the interior. This allowed for the latest concepts and technical developments to be included in the design plan and in the choice of the medical technical design. Sustainability is part of the total design. The hospital has the Pharmafilter installation at its disposal. Green rooftops provide for delayed drainage of rainwater. In addition, warm and cold energy storage is utilised.
In 2002 the new building project group was granted permission by the former Minister of Public Health to start developing. In 2004 execution of Phase 0 started, the preparation of the construction site. The actual construction of the new hospital building started in 2009; in 2018 the new building was put into use. Nevertheless, a large part of the existing buildings will be kept in use as they are now. For example the faculty tower, the Education Centre and Erasmus MC-Sophia. Erasmus MC-Daniel den Hoed will move from the South of Rotterdam to the new building at the Hoboken location.