Diagnostic Centre DC 7

Diagnostic Centre DC 7 is the new central focus of the University Hospital Greifswald. "The new building is an important milestone of the University Medicine Greifswald where site development has been ongoing since the mid-1990s. With the new central main entrance, the Ernst-Moritz-Arndt University of Greifswald and the University Medicine Greifswald have found a face, architecturally speaking." says Uwe Sander, Head of Operations at Greifswald and Rostock BBL M-V. From the welcoming entrance hall of the overall hospital the first and second phases of the University Medicine, its lecture halls and the adjacent diagnostic centre DC 3 with its surgical centre, can now be walked without barriers. Its location has made the DC 7 the new transitional hub and every day, medical staff, patients, visitors, students and teachers flow through the new building.

New Building Instead of Renovating – Originally, the intention was to renovate the Diagnostic Centre DC 8 to modernize it and bring it into line with the new buildings at the University Medicine Greifswald. The building would be stripped back to eliminate the built-in pollutants such as asbestos and to remove the man-made mineral fibres. However, strong ground water infiltration in the basement and serious structural damage was reported in 2007 making it clear that an economically viable repair was not possible. The decision was made that the existing building should be abandoned and a new building constructed in its place, and all during ongoing operation at the University Hospital.

Ensuring Business as Usual – The decision not to renovate the old diagnostic centre DC 8, to instead build a new six-storey building in the same location, and to maintain ongoing operations during the process, required numerous preliminary and interim measures and had many structural consequences for the construction process. Due to the restrictions of the location, it was decided that for planning to begin, the basement of the existing diagnostic centre would be used for excavation and excavation support systems. After the demolition of the exterior walls of the existing basement, the new DC 7 could be built. For structural reasons, a new load-bearing floor slab was constructed on the existing floor slab. The centre grid of the new DC 7 was aligned with the first and second phase of construction of the new University Hospital.

To maintain operation, it was also necessary to build a new power supply in the green zone between DC and the first construction phase. For further technical space, alternative areas in the basement of the second construction phase had to be found. To ensure ongoing services at the surgery centre of the affiliated Diagnostic Centre DC 3, a direct, isolated connection was made from the site to the first construction phase, over the building site of the DC 7 to the DC 3. In addition in the frame of the demolition of DC 8, a connecting bridge between the first construction phase and the surgical centre of the DC 3 was constructed that has since been removed. The functional, operational-organization and structural dependencies to the existing buildings of the University Hospital called for the complete overhaul of the construction process and the creation of a new schedule.
The Realized Architectural Design

Having an elongated structure with rectangular cubage and seven useable floors (Basement, Ground Floor, Floors 1-5) the new DC 7 corresponds with its predecessor. In addition, a technical floor is accommodated in the roof closure. The new building is the same height as the shared entrance hall to the West and connected to the East via a corridor creating a harmonious, architectural whole. From the central waiting area of the outpatient pre-diagnostics and basic diagnostics which are located in the heart of the building, there are two connections to the diagnostics and treatment area located in the second building phase to the south. The first phase of construction, located to the north is accessible by a third, two-story high connection. Both architecturally and functionally the nursing and diagnostics areas of the DC 7 are connected with the new building's central functions. "The interior and exterior material choice was decided by the existing structure of the first and second construction phases of the new hospital, where natural-looking and sustainable materials such as stone, brick, ceramics and wood were used," explains Peter Bonfert, former Head of Division of HWP Architecture and Engineering. "Characteristic, recurring design elements and details used since the mid 1990s, such as the ceramic facade or window design were employed to allow all the University Medicine Greifswald phases to be perceived as a whole building."

Overview of the Usable Space – In detail, the operational concept of the Medical Faculty for the use of the new Diagnostic Centre DC 7 is as follows: The basement floor is an instillations area and is reserved for technical requirements. In the three floors above (ground, 1st and 2nd floor) general outpatient areas, special diagnostics and service rooms for various multidisciplinary outpatients diagnostics can be found. The ground floor of the outpatient clinic area is comprised of various clinics with a monitoring station for pre-diagnostics, basic diagnostics, the pain centre and outpatient anaesthesia areas. The first floor leads into the centre of excellence, into the key areas of diagnostics, as well as into the specialized outpatient clinics for general surgery. The clinics for internal medicine A and B are also located here. The diagnostics and treatment areas of orthopaedics, as well as the service and seminar rooms are situated on the second floor. "The extensive central laboratory areas with associated research facilities are now focused in the third to fifth floors." explains HWP Medical and Laboratory planner, Thomas Layer, representing the PGT Planungsgemeinschaft Technik (short: PGT, technical planning union) of GTB Berlin und HWP. "By doing so, we have managed to reduce the distance between laboratory areas, Immunology and Medical Biochemistry to create a more efficient nucleus for the functioning of the University Medicine Greifswald."

Building Technology – The supply and disposal of the new Diagnostic Centre DC 7 is carried out through an automatic goods transportation system, which is already in use in the first and second phases of the hospital. The existing system has been extended into the new build. The transportation of blood samples and results is conducted via a pneumatic tube system. The entire technology system was implemented in the existing central building control system of the hospital, allowing it to be efficiently monitored and controlled centrally.

High Flexibility for Future Needs – In the realization of the new build DC 7 special attention was paid to future capabilities, and changes in requirements were anticipated and included in the planning. The basic structure, defined by the building grid and corridor provides the selected floor plan design. This, in combination with the lightweight construction dividing walls and proposed standardized technology, allows for a highly flexible environment.

Brief
New Build Diagnostic Centre DC 7

Contracting Authority
Federal State of Mecklenburg-West Pomerania

Client
Betrieb für Bau und Liegenschaften Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Geschäftsbereich Greifswald

Architect
HWP Planungsgesellschaft mbH
Stuttgart (HOAI LPH 2-8)

Structural Engineer
AIU GmbH, Stralsund

Technology Planner
PGT Planungsgemeinschaft Technik GTB / HWP
(HOAI LPH 2-8)

Outdoor Facilities
Landschaftsarchitekturbüro Petters, Stralsund

Total Costs
approx. 36.8 Mil. €

Construction Costs
approx. 3.8 Mil. €

Building Period
07/2010 to 02/2013

Usable area
6,340 m²

Net Area
13.752 m²

Gross Floor Area
15.621 m²

Gross Volume
62.510 m³