Hospital Nova is an energy-efficient, safe, modern central hospital

The Jyväskylä (Finland) central hospital, Hospital Nova, serves approximately  275,000 people in the province. According to Tapani Idman, Department Head, Hospital Design, Granlund, Nova is an exceptional hospital in Finland. “There is only a handful of other projects of a similar size, such as OYS 2030 and the Laakso Hospital in Helsinki.”

Approximately one hundred of Granlund’s designers as well as energy and life cycle consultants were involved in Nova’s HVAC, sprinkler and medical equipment design. The project, which started in 2013, was implemented as a collaborative project management contract. The biggest challenge was for the design, construction and procurement to progress simultaneously. “It required precise scheduling and identification of dependencies,” says Idman.

The designers discussed different solutions and space requirements with the users on the basis of room cards. “We offered different options, sparring with users to consider the solutions that would be most efficient for them,” says Idman. Subject to particular discussions were the facilities for intensive operations, such as the equipment maintenance center, the pharmacy clean rooms and hospital laboratories.

Significant savings with energy recycling

The hospital’s data centre as well as critical imaging, equipment and electrical facilities produce a lot of heat and require reliable cooling. “That’s why Nova designed its own cooling production backed by district cooling,” says Idman.

Energy efficiency was an absolute requirement for all technological solutions, which is why the excess heat generated by the cooling system is recycled to heat the hospital using an energy recycling system that covers the entire hospital. “Recycled energy covers such a large part of the hospital’s district heating needs that the savings achieved are in six figures,” says Idman.

The ventilation units also include an efficient heat recovery system, and the ventilation units in the operating theatres have been implemented in an energy-saving manner. “Of course, it is even more important that ventilation is reliable and adjustable.”

Safe care in all situations

Even though Nova was designed long before COVID-19, it included pandemic wards separated from the rest of the hospital both physically and by means of ventilation right from the start of the hospital project. “They contain everything required for their operations, including maintenance rooms,” says Idman.

Fire safety has also been taken into account to an exceptional degree. “We also implemented a system that ensures the operation of fire technical systems, including ventilation, transport equipment, pipe mail, lifts, door locks and emergency announcements,” says Idman.

The working of the fire technical systems can also be tested in conjunction with other maintenance operations in a simple, unequivocal and watertight way. “It makes it easier to service and maintain the hospital.”