By Healthcare Facilities Today

With only general hospitals in the northern United Arab Emirates, the 300,000-some residents of the region had to fly or take a long drive to a large city such as Abu Dhabi or Dubai — or even go out of the country — to seek specialized medical care, according to an article on the Healthcare Design magazine website.

To address this, the Sheikh Khalifa Specialist Hospital (SKSH) in Ras Al Khaimah broke ground in May 2009. At nearly 700,000 square feet, the facility will have the latest in medical technology and be one of the largest specialist hospitals in the Middle East. 

Opening in mid-2014, the hospital will provide medical services for cancer, cardiology, and chronic diseases, and to treat trauma patients in the northern emirates, Maryam Mohammad Abdulkarim, projects manager for the Ministry of Public Works, said in the article.

The desert terrain and climate heavily influenced the design, the article said. Using local limestone on the building’s façade creates harmony with the landscape and seamlessly connects the two.

“That area has a reddish type of sand, so we used a stone that blended in nicely,” said Jonathan Stark, principal and executive director for Perkins Eastman. “We also tried to layer the façade in such a way that it reflects the shifting sands—that’s the reason for the curved façade. The desert undulates quite a bit, so we wanted to reflect that.”

High heat and humidity, intense sunlight, and strong winds were other factors that had to be considered, and orienting the building so that it was protected from the sun made the best use of the site, according to the article. Patient rooms, which are occupied 24 hours a day, are located on the north side of the building, with the lightest sun exposure and the most windows.

Read the article.