Designed to interconnect between education, outpatient clinics and diagnostic services, the University Hospital creates an image both internally and externally of modern healthcare technology fused with the cultural traditions and architectural forms of the region’s traditional Islamic architecture. Mo

Working closely with Partners Harvard Medical International, Mic Johnson led the design team for the new 1,500,000-square-foot University Hospital, the centerpiece of Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Academic Medical Center at Dubai Healthcare City. This was a precedent-setting project for Dubai and the region—combining medical education, patient education and the healthcare services of a 400-bed, state-of-the-art facility into one campus.

To mediate the harsh environmental conditions, Mic collaborated with façade consultants from Australia and the Middle East to develop the exterior skin of the Bed Tower, South Building, South Atrium, Education Pavilion and North Atrium. This double-walled skin utilizes two layers of glass: one to create a comfortable interior environment and the second to act as a screen, filtering sunlight and mitigating the heat of the sun. It is in contrast to a more historical design approach at the podium, which draws inspiration from the traditional stone forms of wind towers and mosques found in the region.

The unique interior organization of the hospital is designed to easily connect patients and their families to healthcare resources, as well as the social and educational programs of the hospital. As the symbolic and physical center of the campus, the Patient Education Center connects through an armature that links the North and South Atriums and forms the educational and social spine of the hospital, promoting and encouraging all visitors to use the educational resources of the hospital and improve their own health.

Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Size: 1,500,000 square feet
Completion date: on hold
Architect of Record: Ellerbe Becket

Mic Johnson, FAIA was Design Principal for University Hospital while with Ellerbe Becket.