Hannover Medical School: A hospital building for the future

Medicine meets urban development

The Hannover Medical School (MHH) is planning a comprehensive expansion of its campus. With a concept that combines efficiency, sustainability and patient-friendly architecture, a health campus is being created that goes far beyond traditional hospital planning. The design by HENN and C.F. Møller Architects defines the hospital building of the future: a functional, sustainable and at the same time human environment for patients, staff and the urban community.

A health campus connected to the city

The new buildings integrate into the existing campus as a self-contained ensemble. Three construction phases form a new urban building block that connects with the surrounding neighbourhoods via green corridors and passageways. A central element is the pedestrian-friendly hospital plaza, structured by a surrounding arcade – the Loop. This design makes orientation easier, provides protection from the elements and creates an open, welcoming environment.

The site in the east of Hanover also offers direct access to the Eilenriede city forest. With its green courtyards and planted roofs, the campus will become not only a medical centre, but also an integral part of the city’s ecological network.

Functional architecture for maximum efficiency

The new hospital building is organised according to functional criteria. Outpatient clinics and offices are housed in separate areas, while the emergency department, intensive care units and operating theatres are closely interconnected and linked via a shared logistics level. This organisation ensures short distances and optimised processes in day-to-day hospital operations.

With 562 beds, including 120 intensive care beds, a central emergency department and 24 operating theatres, a high-performance centre of top-level medicine is being created. The space programme is complemented by seminar rooms, laboratories and administrative units, underscoring the campus’s university character.

Sustainability as a guiding principle

The design integrates numerous measures for resource conservation:

• Timber-hybrid construction in the care areas reduces the CO₂ footprint.
• Recycled materials such as brick and aluminium minimise material use.
• Photovoltaic systems and heat pumps increase energy efficiency.
• Green roofs and façades promote biodiversity and improve the microclimate.

The compact building structures can also be flexibly adapted to future requirements. This makes the MHH campus not only a state-of-the-art hospital, but also a model for sustainable hospital construction.

A milestone for academic medicine With the planned completion of the first construction phase in 2031, a health campus is being created in Hanover that combines architectural clarity with functional efficiency. A place that strengthens medical research, enables high-quality patient care and at the same time provides impetus for urban development.