Karolinska is one of the first university hospitals in the world to be certified with LEED gold. The new building has also achieved the gold standard in the Swedish Green Building Council environmental certification (Miljöbyggnad Guld). Designed by Tengbom Architects and developed by Skanska, the ultramodern hospital will place a strong focus on the patient. The hospital is covered by more than 20.000 m2 of green roofs, which has a proven positive effect on wellbeing.
Storm water control and energy efficiency
With a size of approximately 330,000 sqm, including 730 patient care rooms and 35 operating theatres, it is the largest project in Sweden carried out as a partnership between public and private players and the country’s most advanced BIM-project. The project also carries out strict environmental requirements. The green roofs, consisting of Sempergreen Sedum-mix blankets, play an important part in this, providing advanced performances in terms of stormwater control and energy efficiency. The buildings’ energy consumption for electricity, heating and cooling is 110 kWh/m2 per year – less than half of most existing hospitals today. 99.7% of energy comes from renewable sources with low CO2 emissions.
Healing environment
The ‘patients-first’ policy is also made visible in the adding of greenery in the design. Research has proven the positive effects that a green environment can have on the mental and physical wellbeing of patients. That is why a green environment is also called a 'healing environment'. Not just for the patients, but also for visitors and the medical staff.
Copyright photos: Tengbom Architects / Sempergreen