First phase of Gera Wald-Klinikum completed on schedule

The new Wald-Klinikum (forest clinic) in Gera is taking shape. The first phase of the largest hospital project in former East Germany is nearly complete and will be officially opened at the beginning of December 2009. The foundation stone for the new buildings was laid in May 2007. The aim is to consolidate the clinic - previously distributed across several buildings at two separate locations - in one place.
Drees & Sommer has been commissioned to undertake project control and is ensuring that all deadlines are met. Together with the architects Donnig + Unterstab,
Drees & Sommer was able to identify substantial cost reduction potential: While the cost estimate in March 2004 was EUR 187.9 million, the current costing is some EUR 160 million.

When Drees & Sommer became involved in the project at the end of 2003, the Heidelberg educational and health group SRH had just purchased the clinic from the City of Gera. As the hospital was at that time divided across two locations, the City of Gera had already decided to build new premises. But the new owner subjected the proposed schedule to close scrutiny - and went on to rework the design of space and functions in several steps and to develop a completely new design based on an invitational architectural competition. This resulted in substantial cost savings, for example as the result of a huge reduction in gross floor area. Drees & Sommer managed the architectural competition: The experts set up the procedure, prepared the documents, and defined the tasks. They also reviewed submissions and attended presentations, greatly easing the principal's workload.

Construction with the clinic fully operational
Following completion of the first phase, some areas of the clinic were handed over. The radiology department, intensive therapy ward and the intermediate care facility are already operational, with functional diagnostics and the ward building to follow punctually at the beginning of December. And costs remain within budget. The four planned parts of the complex will be completed in two stages with the clinic remaining fully operational. The new clinic buildings will provide usable floor area of just under 29,000 square meters. To achieve a consolidation of all functional areas of the Wald-Klinikum at one site, the Operating Center - built in 2004 - will be integrated into the new complex. Individual existing buildings will be used for psychiatry, pathology and dialysis. The entire complex is scheduled for completion by the end of 2012.

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