With construction on one of the largest healthcare projects in the region now nearing completion, Minister of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy and Acting Minister of Public Works, Dr. Jassem Muhammad Abdullah Al-Ostad, recently paid an official visit to inspect firsthand the progress at the New Maternity Hospital. Leading multidisciplinary firm, Pace, is overseeing the construction, had recently announced that construction of the 789-bed healthcare facility is now in its final stages.
During their expansive visit, the Minister toured the inpatient and labor delivery rooms, the laboratories, and the central radiology unit. They also walked along the 9-meter-wide bridge that is equipped with two travelators to reach the outpatient building, the auditorium and the outpatient pharmacy.
The minister applauded the efforts of everyone involved in the design, construction, and supervision of this world-class healthcare project. He also referred to the New Maternity Hospital as an excellent state-of-the-art medical facility, commending Pace on its ability to overcome obstacles, including those posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent international shipping disruptions.
Commenting on the progress, Pace CEO, Architect Tarek Shuaib said, “The Minister saw firsthand how every brick, every department, and every detail in the design of the New Maternity Hospital carries the promise of a brighter future”. He added that, “At Pace, we believe in crafting spaces that marry functionality with superior design aesthetics. The new Hospital is not just a structure; it's a testament to the beauty of creation, where the artistry of design paves the way for the miracle of life”.
Shuaib pointed out that apart from operation and maintenance, the hospital is 99% complete, and that all works including furniture, fixtures, and equipment are completed. He stated that testing and commissioning, as well as contract close out, are currently ongoing.
Expected to open soon, the New Maternity Hospital’s main building consists of three large towers for in-patient beds situated atop a dense clinical podium, and adjacent to the out-patient clinical buildings, parking and a multi-level entry atrium. The large Hospital has a total capacity of 789 beds, 460 of which are inpatient private suites, and 52 are for Intensive Care Units (ICU). The outpatient building consists of a ground floor and five floors, with two car park basements accommodating about 530 cars. An Emergency Department, part of the critical care component of the facility, will tie to the wider emergency response network of the region. The Annex Building will host ambulatory services, administrative offices, and an auditorium.
The spectacular site for this project, located on the coast of Kuwait Bay in the Al-Sabah Health Zone, offers a particularly exciting location for the 360,000 m2 project, with strong connections to the sea. The New Maternity Hospital’s design offers 70% of the in-patient rooms a view of the adjacent bay and coastline. Being located close to the bay area, the Hospital will be equipped with a massive sea wall (water breaker) along the 320 metres shoreline as part of its green design. There is also a landscaping plan for the external areas and rooftops.
To further enhance circulation and movement across the medical complex, Pace has designed three air-conditioned pedestrian bridges connecting the existing hospital to the new buildings. A multi-storey car park with two basements, a ground floor, five podium levels, and shaded roof parking provides1,200 parking places.
“We are proud to be trusted partners of national development for over 50 years, and will continue to design the future with a foundation of care and innovation,” concluded Shuaib.