State-of-the-art and highly organized

Dortmund Hospital is a tertiary care center and the largest hospital in North Rhine-Westphalia. At the North campus, the existing operating suite was renovated and expanded with a new building.

Dortmund Hospital is a tertiary care center and the largest hospital in North Rhine-Westphalia. At the North campus, the existing operating suite was renovated and expanded with a new building. In 2022, the expansion was completed as the first construction phase, and the new building with its state-of-the-art surgical wing was put into operation. The total investment amounts to approximately 25 million euros. The new building was designed and realized by heinlewischer architects from Berlin. Despite numerous challenges—including work during ongoing hospital operations and throughout the COVID-19 pandemic—they delivered the project on schedule.

Planning for the construction project began in 2016 with a feasibility study. After the design and planning phases, the team immediately faced their first major challenge. To ensure adequate structural stability, 20-meter-long drilled piers were sunk into the foundation of the designated site. This foundation supports an operating suite spanning 7,800 m² across two levels. Dortmund Hospital's North campus now features 15 operating rooms—11 newly built and four existing ones. In line with the "Smart Hospital" concept, the opportunity was seized to equip the interdisciplinary operating rooms with the latest diagnostic and therapeutic equipment. Thanks to sophisticated communication technology, surgeons can be connected to multiple operating rooms simultaneously. Two of the surgical units are so-called hybrid operating rooms, measuring 73 m² each—roughly one and a half times larger than standard rooms—and equipped with specialized angiography systems for complex vascular procedures. The new construction provides a modern infrastructure that optimizes operational workflows through shorter distances and improved functional organization. To maximize resource efficiency, the surgical suites are arranged in clusters of three, each with a prep zone, sterile storage areas, and an induction room. By sharing induction facilities across operating rooms, additional usable space was gained. Architecturally, the distinctive window façade is a standout feature. Spanning 450 m² and fitted with fixed louvers, it can be darkened and covered with opaque film at key locations to ensure patient privacy. "It was important to us to bring the light and atmosphere of the adjacent Fredenbaum Park into the operating rooms," explain the architects at heinlewischer. "This creates a positive environment that benefits everyone." In a second construction phase, the existing operating room space will be converted into a holding area for patient preparation and recovery.

www.heinlewischer.de