Ireland’s head of government, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, performed the ceremonial sod turning for the 150-bed hospital designed by HOK’s London studio and Reddy Architecture + Urbanism.
Construction is underway on Bon Secours Health System’s new hospital in Ballysimon on the outskirts of Limerick. The state-of-the-art private hospital is scheduled to open in 2025 and provide care for 50,000 patients annually.
“It will greatly expand the quality of health services to people living and working in the Mid-West,” said Taoiseach Varadkar at the February 17 sod turning for the €190-million facility. “This hospital will be used by private patients who are insured and public patients funded by government.”
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, HOK’s Ian Fleetwood and Jason Kenny, CEO of the Bon Secours Limerick Hospital, discuss the new building.
The hospital’s design and programming incorporate general medicine and specialty health services. Key features of the building include four operating theatres, an ophthalmology unit, a radiology department, a 20-bay ambulatory surgical unit and 75 inpatient beds.
“This new facility will transform day-care surgical and oncology treatments available in Limerick, provide new services such as general medicine, a new cath lab and cardiology, and widen patient-centered services to a growing local population,” said Bill Maher, CEO of Bon Secours Health System.
“We are excited to see the project move to this next phase,” added Allison Wagner, regional leader of Healthcare for HOK’s London studio. “We designed the building with a focus on patient experience and staff well-being. Visitors and employees are going to notice that the moment they step into the hospital.”
The hospital is located with easy access to public transport and will include EV parking and facilities for cyclists. Additional sustainability measures for the building include heat pump technology for heating and cooling, green roofs, ample daylighting and natural ventilation where appropriate.
Check out the video below for more about the planning and design of the new hospital.