Sarvodaya Hospital: From commercial hub to a super-specialty hospital

July 5th, 2023

Tags: Creative Designer Architects, GCP Hospitality, healthcare, healthcare design, hospital design, India, Sarvodaya Hospital

Located in Greater Noida, a residential section of New Delhi, Sarvodaya Hospital caters to medical issues of all types, including emergencies. The facility opened early this year with 300 beds across six levels. As a brownfield development, involving a building originally used for mixed range commercial purposes, the project represents something of a step change for the city’s healthcare sector.

Its opening indicates that neighbouring residents – who live in an area with a population density of nearly 25,000 people per square kilometre – no longer need to travel to Noida or New Delhi to seek medical attention. They can now receive high-quality, accessible healthcare right on their doorsteps. Creative Designer Architects (CDA), an interdisciplinary architectural practice in India with extensive experience across the healthcare sector, was responsible for the hospital’s design.

Sarvodaya Hospital lobby by Creative Designer Architects

Unifying a tripartite form

The biggest challenge CDA faced was having to transform the property, which had been conceived in a tri-partite form with a central node connecting three separate blocks, into a functioning, connected hospital. To achieve this, the architects sought to connect the blocks at various locations with eight-foot-wide corridors.

Situated along interior courtyards, these corridors facilitate seamless transitions among the hospital’s various departments and provide plenty of space for the movement of patients and staff. On top of that, as per the architects’ specifications, these transition zones receive abundant daylight, enhance wayfinding, and contribute to the wellbeing of all who use them.

Unified in this way, the three blocks function as one. Adjoining the existing commercial and retail stores, the ground floor houses the double-height reception, waiting area and cafeteria. The floors above accommodate outpatient departments (such as outpatient nephrology and gastroenterology), while the third floor caters to mother-and-child services. The fourth and fifth floors are dedicated to critical care and surgery.

Sarvodaya Hospital cafeteria by Creative Designer Architects

The strategic division of departments ensures rapid access to surgical suites and imaging facilities. This targeted placement enhances the speed and efficiency of emergency response, saving precious time during critical moments.

Then finally, the sixth floor and beyond are dedicated to in-patient units. As is the case throughout Sarvodaya Hospital, the architects designed these spaces with the well-being of both patients and medical staff at front of mind. Large windows fill the interiors with natural light and establish connection to the outdoors. The interiors are designed with muted calming colours intended to facilitate optimal patient outcomes.

Related: Mohalla Clinics: Portable healthcare solution in India made from used shipping containers

Sarvodaya Hospital by Creative Designer Architects_2

Uniformed design elements

By standardising design elements, such as patient room headwalls, footwalls, and wall claddings, the architects were able to reduce cost and accelerate execution. On top of that, drywall construction and adhesive technology for finishes, along with the application of pre-designed systems like PVC panels, wall coverings, and claddings, helped reduce construction time. A semi-unitised façade system that further helped cut down on construction time was installed in just three months.

Addressing healthcare gap

In fact, the overall fit-out works took only eleven months as the building has been adaptively repurposed to minimise environmental impact. Taking the region’s rapidly increasing population into consideration, CDA made provisions for the hospital’s expansions and alterations in the future.

Sarvodaya Hospital demonstrates that by revitalising defunct urban spaces, we can bridge the gaps in healthcare infrastructure and create transformative spaces that positively shape the lives of individuals and communities.