1.12 Emergency and Critical Care Medical Building
The Ministry of National Defense, aiming to provide modern medical services to military personnel and the public, launched the “Xiangyi Project” in 2016. This initiative involves dedicated investment to support the construction of new medical facilities at various military hospitals. By expanding hospital infrastructure, it addresses issues such as aging facilities and spatial limitations in existing medical buildings, thereby enhancing overall medical quality and competitiveness to achieve sustainable operational development. To date, the new building of the Songshan project has been put into use, and approval processes for five other construction projects in Taoyuan, Taichung, Tri-Service General Hospital, Keelung, and Kaohsiung have been completed. Among these, a total of NT$2.42021 billion was invested in constructing the hospital’s acute and critical care building. The building comprises nine floors above ground and one basement level and is planned to house 292 acute general beds, 97 specialized beds, and 12 operating rooms, comprehensively enhancing acute and critical care capabilities and medical service efficiency. From planning and design to operational implementation, the building adheres to core principles of low-carbon energy saving, resource efficiency, and intelligent management. It has already obtained candidate certificates for green building and smart building and is steadily progressing toward the goals of Gold-level Green Building Certification and Silver-level Smart Building Certification.
During the architectural design phase
The hospital incorporated passive energy-saving strategies by optimizing the building envelope to effectively reduce energy intensity. The exterior features recessed windows that minimize heat gain from oblique sunlight, while horizontal sunshades block direct sunlight, reducing indoor temperature rise and lowering air conditioning demand. These design strategies maintain indoor comfort without increasing energy consumption and significantly enhance overall energy efficiency. Integrated planning of building orientation and sunlight exposure balances natural lighting and shading, further optimizing the building’s energy use efficiency.
In equipment and resource management
The building fully incorporates high-efficiency lighting systems combined with intelligent control mechanisms that dynamically adjust based on actual usage scenarios to minimize unnecessary electricity consumption. For water resource management, a rainwater recycling system is implemented to reuse water for non-potable purposes and landscape maintenance, effectively enhancing water use efficiency and reducing reliance on external water sources. Additionally, interior landscaping and environmentally friendly design elements are integrated throughout the building. Through strategic plant arrangements and ecological landscape creation, the overall spatial quality is improved, providing patients and their families with comfortable resting environments that balance medical functionality with enhanced environmental quality.
In spatial planning
The hospital also emphasizes the integration of the medical environment with humanistic care. A designated portion of the construction budget is allocated to public art installations, creating a medical space that combines therapeutic and cultural value. The fusion of artwork and spatial design fosters a stable, gentle, and supportive medical environment, helping to reduce patient anxiety and enhance the overall medical experience, thereby further embodying a patient-centered healthcare philosophy.
During the operational implementation phase
The hospital emphasizes smart building development by fully integrating information technology into medical space management and clinical workflows. Intelligent monitoring systems and energy management platforms enable real-time tracking of equipment status and energy consumption. Data analysis is employed to optimize adjustments, enhancing overall operational efficiency and safety. Additionally, disaster protection mechanisms and equipment monitoring systems are integrated to strengthen emergency response capabilities, ensuring stable medical service operations across various scenarios.
Regarding ward design
The hospital has implemented smart care concepts by establishing an integrated ward information system, which includes electronic display panels, bedside information devices, and environmental control systems. This system enables medical staff to monitor patient conditions in real time and perform necessary interventions promptly. Integration of these systems streamlines nursing workflows and significantly improves the efficiency of information transmission, thereby reducing the risk of human error and enhancing medical safety. Additionally, patients can interact with the medical team in real time through these systems, increasing their sense of involvement and improving their overall care experience.
Through comprehensive planning and implementation, the hospital has successfully integrated architectural design, resource management, and medical services. The acute and critical care building not only features highly efficient medical functions but also meets sustainability goals related to energy conservation and environmental friendliness. Additionally, the introduction of information technology and process optimization has effectively reduced administrative burdens on medical staff, enabling them to focus more on clinical care, thereby enhancing the quality of medical services and patient safety.
In the future, the hospital will continue to use this building as a central hub, deepening smart medical applications and data governance capabilities. It will gradually strengthen energy use monitoring and carbon reduction management mechanisms, promoting the integrated development of medical services and environmental sustainability. While continuously improving medical quality and operational efficiency, the hospital will also enhance overall organizational resilience and response capabilities, steadily advancing toward a modern medical institution that combines high-quality medical services with sustainable development values.