Through its billion-dollar-plus Global Health Initiative (GHI), the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) is supporting the design, construction, and outfitting of three new public hospitals in Greece: the SNF General Hospital of Komotini in the far northeast of the country near the borders with Bulgaria and Türkiye; the SNF General Hospital of Sparta in the southern Peloponnese; and the SNF University Pediatric Hospital of Thessaloniki in Greece’s second largest city. The project aims to increase healthcare capacity in Greece, ensure high-quality care for patients via state-of-the-art healthcare facilities and equipment, and, with the SNF University Pediatric Hospital of Thessaloniki, to create a brand-new regional center of excellence for pediatric care and medical education. When complete, the three healthcare facilities will be among the most advanced in Southeastern Europe and will be delivered to the Greek State, to operate under the Greek National Health System.

The new hospitals were designed by the Renzo Piano Building Workshop (RPBW) in collaboration with specialists from around the world and local health authorities. RPBW’s designs prioritize a holistic, human-centered model of care. For example, a model Center for Child and Adolescent Mental Health will be an integral feature of the hospital in Thessaloniki, enabling physicians and mental health professionals to collaborate and promote the physical and mental wellbeing of their pediatric patients. Through SNF and the Design Team’s shared vision, the hospitals will aim to boost patient health outcomes and enhance staff wellbeing with easy access to nature, natural light, and greenery. In accordance with the project’s holistic design ambitions, RPBW also envisioned the facilities as an opportunity to place a bold marker for sustainable development. Using multiple sources of renewable, clean energy, the team plans to deliver zero-carbon-ready buildings. Additionally, the Project Team includes a specialist LEED consultant, DCarbon, whose role is to ensure the goal of LEED Platinum certification for all three facilities is achieved.

To deliver such sustainable facilities, the Design Team prioritized renewable energy sources, lower-carbon materials, and energy modeling during design. Collectively, the three hospitals will feature a photovoltaic canopy of nearly 20,000 square meters. The facility in Komotini will make use of geothermal power for 100% of its heating needs, while newly planted woodlands interspersed with gardens and playgrounds will surround the SNF University Pediatric Hospital of Thessaloniki. The design of the SNF General Hospital in Sparta optimizes natural light and sightlines of the surrounding mountainous landscape to boost end-user comfort and aid in healing.

The team also earned LEED credits for equitable development by consulting with hospital end users, keeping the public consistently informed about project progress, and incorporating input from local communities and end users into the designs and clinical provisions. The team earned additional LEED credits by conducting a public transit intervention to help ensure access to the Pediatric Hospital in Thessaloniki. This involved liaising with local authorities to enhance bus connections to the new facility, which is located on the outskirts of the city. Following design, the Project Team submitted all three projects to Green Business Certification Inc. and has already secured the majority of credits required for LEED Platinum certification through the design review.

Since the projects transitioned to construction at the end of 2023, the Project Team has continued to prioritize sustainability. “During construction, we’ve been monitoring material deliveries and work installations to confirm adherence with the sustainability principles set forth in Renzo Piano’s design documents,” says Hill International, Inc. Deputy Project Director Sylvia Tsitziloni, who leads the project management team. “As accreditation is linked with construction methodologies and site operations and covers noise, dust, sedimentation control, air quality, and waste management, we’re providing day-to-day monitoring of construction activities to help ensure that the applied practices meet LEED accreditation requirements.”

Sylvia adds that the teams across all three sites are collaborating and sharing lessons learned and other solutions to reduce cost and schedule risks, promote safety on site, and achieve SNF’s quality goals, inclusive of SNF and RPBW’s ambitious sustainability targets. When construction concludes, the Hill team will work with SNF’s commissioning consultant and the rest of the Project Team to conduct fundamental and enhanced commissioning and confirm all three facilities meet their expected energy efficiency requirements.

“SNF’s project will help improve healthcare access for people throughout Greece, improve the nation’s healthcare infrastructure, and deliver a center of excellence for medical training and pediatric care,” says Hill Project Director and Vice President Peter Price. “It will also demonstrate how healthcare projects can contribute to a more sustainable future for people in Greece, Europe, and around the world. We’re proud to be part of the Project Team leading the way.”

Learn more about the SNF projects here:
https://www.snfghi.org/en/about/setting-the-bar-for-future-hospitals-globally/,

SNF University Pediatric Hospital of Thessaloniki: https://www.snfghi.org/en/pillars/infrastructure-projects/snf-university-pediatric-hospital-of-thessaloniki/,
SNF General Hospital of Komotini:https://www.snfghi.org/en/pillars/infrastructure-projects/snf-general-hospital-of-komotini/, and
SNF General Hospital of Sparta: https://www.snfghi.org/en/pillars/infrastructure-projects/snf-general-hospital-of-sparta/.

As part SNF’s community outreach, the construction of the three hospitals is being broadcast live here: https://bit.ly/3Yb5rAD.

Read about Hill’s involvement with the project here: https://bit.ly/4eMd068.

For more about LEED, click here: https://www.usgbc.org/leed