Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (Seha) won the Best Sustainable Hospital Project Award at the Hospital Build & Infrastructure Middle East Exhibition & Congress for its Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC) development.

Held in Dubai, the awards seek to recognise exceptional healthcare projects developed and funded by organisations in the Middle East.

“We are delighted to receive this award and accept it as a tangible recognition of Seha’s continued commitment to sustainable development and innovation,” said Saif Al Hameli, chief officer of Seha’s facilities and construction division. “Through the use of next-generation technology, the SKMC development promises to be one of the most advanced and environmentally-conscious healthcare developments in the Middle East.”

Envisioned as a “city within a city”, Seha’s SKMC transcends usual design models of medical centers and creates a bustling community featuring vibrant public spaces with a relaxing, therapeutic environment, a statement from Seha said.

Spread over an area of over 300,000 sq m, SKMC will include three distinct hospitals – a general hospital with a Level 1 trauma center and tertiary women's and pediatric hospital.

“The primary design challenge was creating distinct identities for each of the three hospitals while maintaining a unified design across the project. Designers incorporated heavy stone columns and walkways around the city as homage to the region’s ancient architecture. Going beyond the somber mood of many healthcare facilities, SKMC will feature tranquil green spaces and tree-lined boulevards, providing a relaxing environment for recovering patients,” Al Hameli said.

Upon completion, SKMC will be the largest hospital in the UAE and utilise state-of-art systems while integrating traditional Middle Eastern architectural designs to naturally minimide the harsh effects Abu Dhabi’s climate.

The hospital will feature extensive use of natural light to reduce power needs, a solar panel system with high-efficiency concentrating photovoltaic cells for power alongside traditional practices such as condensate recovery system supplying natural irrigation for the hospital’s garden areas.

With an 826-bed capacity, the new SKMC will provide world-class healthcare services to the community. Consisting three separate hospitals - a public general hospital alternative to the current SKMC, an obstetrics and gynecology hospital providing expectant mothers as an alternative to the Corniche Hospital and a specialised pediatric hospital dedicated solely to children – SKMC is a unified medical city where each unique facility is fully-integrated, providing patients with readily accessible service for all their acute care healthcare needs. – TradeArabia News Service