SSH Designs the Largest Children’s Hospital Project of its Kind in the World

In 2016, SSH, one of the leading master planning, infrastructure, building design, construction supervision and project management firms in the Middle East, was appointed by Kuwait’s Ministry of Health and Ministry of Public Works to provide a study and design for the new children’s hospital on a design-award-construct basis. The design was revealed by the Ministry of Public Works for the first time during the Arab Health Conference, with the project being undertaken by SSH in association with global architects HKS and engineering firm WSP.

Kuwait’s newest tertiary children’s hospital will be the largest hospital of its kind in the world. It features a total of 792 beds that will suit all medical needs and methods of treatment. The 300,000 sqm hospital is located within the Al Sabah Specialty Medical Area, in Al-Shuwaikh.

The unique design concept has been delivered with a futuristic hospital design theme, comprising innovative and functional design that incorporates state-of-the-art technology and energy conservation. The Kuwait Children’s Hospital will be built using the highest standards of construction, materials and equipment. The hospital will provide a welcoming, comfortable, stress-free and home-like environment for its patients and their respective families.

The facility also includes diagnostic and treatment centres to complement all tertiary care services, along with other non-clinical support and public departments. Non-healthcare structures, functions and services are also part of the scope which includes 2,400 car parking spaces, a helipad to support emergency air transport services and a day care centre for infants, pre-toddlers and pre-schoolers, dedicated to children of staff working at the proposed facility. In addition, five shelters for civil defence were requested.

There has been a growth in demand for healthcare construction in the Middle East region and SSH, with its extensive experience in the sector across the globe, is best placed to contribute to the development of this sector. Their rich talent pool of shared professional expertise and knowledge is invaluable in a sector where design integrity matters, and facilitates collaboration with clients to create buildings that assist with the healing process. SSH continues to produce world-class architecture that facilitates faster recovery, improving the standard of care offered by the hospital’s operators. With the growth of the healthcare sector in terms of hospitals and the growing specialised healthcare workforce, alongside the technological developments, SSH is well placed to lead healthcare design into a new ‘gold standard’ generation of healthcare.

SSH is a leading provider in a variety of sectors ranging from transport, infrastructure and sustainability to architecture and engineering services in the region. SSH's ambition is to be the architectural and engineering consultant, strategic partner and employer of choice in the MENA region. The focus is on shaping the built environment and infrastructure of the modern Middle East, supporting the goals of the region’s visionary leaders. Currently, SSH employs over 1,000 people with offices in Abu Dhabi, Algeria, Bahrain, Dubai, Iraq, Kuwait, London, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and South Africa.

By adopting global best practice standards in the delivery of its services and maintaining an environment of self-evaluation and continuous improvement, SSH is able to remain amongst the world’s top 100 architectural bodies.