Shaping the future of healthcare across Europe
Sweco’s role in Europe’s state-of-the-art hospital projects
Sweco has significant experience of advising clients in healthcare, from supporting industrial clients within the healthcare and pharma sector, to planning, designing, building and optimising hospitals and other health-oriented building projects.
Sweco’s current and past experience from healthcare projects include private and public clients across Europe. Through these projects, Sweco demonstrates its commitment to creating state-of-the-art healthcare facilities that not only serve the needs of the present but are also adaptable for the future, ensuring long-term value for patients, staff, and the wider community.
Read more about eight of our recent healthcare projects in Luxembourg, Finland, Belgium, Germany, Norway and Sweden.
Südspidol: Landmark of healing in Luxembourg
Sweco’s visionary approach to healthcare design is further embodied in the Südspidol project in Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg. The SWECO/G.A.F./S.W.A.A. consortium, led by Sweco, is developing this landmark hospital complex for the Centre Hospitalier Emile Mayrisch (CHEM). This project transcends conventional hospital design, cultivating a space that connects with the community and offers a nurturing environment for patients and staff alike.
With an emphasis on sustainability, the new Südspidol hospital complex will feature a gross floor area of 121,000 m² and approximately 600 beds, primarily in single rooms. Sweco’s comprehensive role spans the full spectrum of design phases, leveraging BIM design, and coordination, and aiming for DGNB certification to underscore the project’s high sustainability ambition. The expected completion in 2033 will mark the culmination of a future-proof concept that harmonizes personalised care with energy efficiency.
Photo Credit: © CHEM
Ahvenisto Hospital: A customer-oriented vision for healthcare in Finland
The new Ahvenisto Hospital – or Assi – in Hämeenlinna, Finland, will set a new standard for patient-focused care. Replacing the original 1979 building, the 74,000 m² facility is being built beside a popular nature reserve, with a campus-style layout of interconnected buildings.
Its design draws on the city’s red-brick heritage, using Umbra-dyed concrete elements to blend into the urban landscape. Safe, accessible routes for all users have been carefully planned, and interiors feature durable, easy-to-clean materials with warm lighting and wood accents.
Sweco’s scope includes architecture, structural engineering, building services, logistics planning and user-oriented design. Automation – including robotics, conveyors and one of Finland’s tallest automated storage systems – will streamline operations. Completion is planned for 2026.
Stuttgart Cancer Centre: Integrated care in a purpose-built facility
The new 7,000 m² Cancer Centre at Stuttgart Hospital brings chemotherapy, radiotherapy, nuclear medicine and research together in a purpose-built space. Replacing an outdated building, it strengthens the hospital’s campus and improves patient flow.
The design is simple and elegant with a ceramic-clad basement, light-toned rendered upper floors with irregular windows and large curtain wall glazing for abundant natural light. A metal louver façade crowns the top floor.
Despite tight site constraints, the building maximises space and connects to the central hospital via an underground logistics tunnel, delivering an efficient, patient-friendly environment for advanced cancer care.
UZ Brussels: A masterplan for a modernised university hospital
UZ Brussel is undergoing a 20-year, four-phase transformation to address space shortages, fragmented services and circulation issues. Sweco has developed a 20-year spatial plan to reorganise and expand the campus in four phases. This includes 20,000 m² of new construction, optimised logistics and distinct zones for specialised centres – all while ensuring minimal disruption to ongoing operations.
Preparatory works include a temporary oncology centre and a fully renovated emergency department designed for 70,000 patients annually, with faster pathways and improved efficiency.
Next comes a new medical technical block for acute services such as oncology, dialysis, imaging, intensive care and a full hotfloor, plus underground parking. The flagship Landmark UZB main entrance will integrate a congress centre and offices, giving the campus a strong new identity.
ZNA Cadix: Antwerp’s sky-high healthcare innovation
The ZNA Cadix hospital in Antwerp, Belgium, represents another milestone in Sweco’s portfolio, having opened its doors on 18 September 2023. The hospital’s design breaks the mold with its vertical construction and integration into the urban landscape. ZNA Cadix, standing at 88 meters tall, is the third-tallest tower in Antwerp and is designed to accommodate 200,000 patients annually.
The hospital’s unique position at the heart of Antwerp, with easy access to public transportation and proximity to Park Spoor Noord, exemplifies Sweco’s philosophy of integrating healthcare facilities within the fabric of the city. The “care boulevard” on the ground floor, along with the publicly accessible restaurant on the third floor, invites the community to engage with the hospital, creating a vibrant and welcoming environment.
Photo Credit: © Filip Dujardin // Sourbron Fotografie
Nye Aker Hospital: A new era of healthcare in Norway
In Oslo, the Nye Aker Hospital project, led by Team Aker which includes Sweco, Ratio architects, Arkitema Architects, Muliticonsul and Bygganalyse, is poised to deliver world-class healthcare services. Since fall 2022, the Sweco project group has had an extensive role in planning this significant medical facility. The Nye Aker Hospital is envisioned to be one of Norway’s largest construction projects of the decade, acting as a comprehensive local hospital with acute functions and providing services in somatics, mental health, and specialized addiction treatment.
The hospital’s site encompasses 186 acres, situated on a hill north of Sinsen, and will feature a blend of new and rehabilitated buildings totaling 190,000 square meters. Emphasizing the integration of old and new, the design promotes synergy between the built environment, green spaces, and efficient logistics. With the patient experience at the forefront, Nye Aker Hospital is expected to commence operations in 2030, following a meticulous 7.5-year construction plan.
University Hospital Bonn: A modern hub for immunology research in Germany
The expansion of the University Hospital Bonn, a renowned healthcare institution in Germany, is centred around the newly completed BMZ 2 biomedical facility. This modern structure is designed by Sweco and it accommodates six advanced laboratories dedicated to cutting-edge immunology research, part of the hospital’s Institute of Innate Immunity. Nestled within the Venusberg Campus, the facility aligns with the hospital’s mission of combining world-class medical care, teaching and research in one location.
The three-storey BMZ 2 building addresses the challenge of limited space while harmonising with the surrounding hospital structures and the broader cityscape. The building’s facade is designed to create a welcoming impression with its recessed entrance area, while its bold combination of coloured glass pilasters, window elements and vertical metal panels gives it a strikingly modern aesthetic. The facility not only enhances the campus’s functionality but also serves as a new gateway to the university’s healthcare and research hub.
H-Huset: A visionary healthcare environment at Örebro University Hospital, Sweden
The H-Huset building at Örebro University Hospital in Sweden is another example of Sweco’s forward-thinking approach to healthcare design, where technological innovation meets patient-centred care. This cutting-edge facility, developed in partnership with a Danish design firm, was created to offer flexible spaces that can adapt to the continuously evolving demands of modern healthcare. Designed as an evidence-based environment, H-Huset incorporates advanced medical technologies while fostering an atmosphere conducive to healing and emotional well-being.
The building’s architecture was carefully planned to enhance patient recovery, utilising elements such as natural light, greenery and art to promote a sense of calm. The comb-shaped design maximises access to daylight and views of green landscapes, which have been shown to aid in recovery. Sweco’s contributions extended beyond architecture, with their building service system consultants providing crucial design and construction documentation. The result is a high-tech, future-proof hospital that not only integrates seamlessly into the urban landscape but also supports both innovation and emotional care in equal measure.
