Client
Helsebygg Midt-Norge, on behalf of St. Olav’s Hospital and NTNU
Function
University Hospital
Discipline
Project group management, architect
Function and Architecture
St. Olav’s Hospital was unique as a university hospital when completed in 2014. It is the only university hospital organized in a clear block structure adapted to the urban fabric. The centres are interconnected by underground culverts and bridges: the second floor houses treatment areas, while the third floor accommodates research facilities. This design makes it possible to link large, shared spaces across the centres.
The Acute – Heart and Lung Centre follows the general centre principle: outpatient clinic, vestibule, cafeteria, blood sampling, and public areas on the ground floor; operating theatres on the second floor with bridge connections to the Movement Centre and the Gastro Centre; NTNU facilities on the third floor; and inpatient wards on the fourth, fifth, and sixth floors.
Medical Specialties in the Acute and Heart and Lung Centre
- Ambulance and emergency department, urgent care
- Operating theatres – heart and lung surgery, cardiothoracic surgery
- Diagnostic imaging
- Main intensive care, heavy and light monitoring
- Central sterilization unit for the entire hospital
- Main kitchen for the entire hospital
- Emergency medical communication centre (AMK)
- Rooftop helipad
The central emergency department in the north wing (the Acute Centre) is organized along a vertical axis with two large elevators. On the roof is the helipad, while the basement houses ambulance and emergency reception. The elevators provide rapid access to operating theatres, intensive care, and advanced monitoring units.
The Acute Centre is constructed in white concrete, with double sets of windows and detailing in natural anodized aluminium. This ensures strong sound insulation, particularly important for the rooftop helipad where large Sea King helicopters can land. The inter-municipal emergency clinic and the orthopaedic trauma outpatient clinic were given a distinctive signal-red entrance, illuminated at night to emphasize their function in the cityscape. (The emergency clinic has since relocated to other premises at Øya.)
Implementation
Design-and-build contract with collaborative execution, based on a contractor competition with a target price for the building.
