Outdated hospital services transformed into warm care environments

Pending the realization of a new 20-hectare healthcare park on the Salvator Plus site in Hasselt, Jessa Hospital continues to invest in upgrading its existing infrastructure. After the NMR and emergency department, which had previously been taken care of, the hematology and oncology services on the Virga Jesse campus were also given a new look. The latter can be taken literally, as the interior has been duly refreshed.

The Virga Jesse campus in the center of Hasselt is being progressively renovated to improve the operation of the hospital and receive patients in the best possible conditions. This spring it was the turn of the hematology and oncology services. As in the past with the NMR and emergency department, it was Assar Architects that architecturally took care of everything. "With hematology, it was mainly about refurbishment. The look-and-feel of the department was upgraded and the techniques were renewed (mainly the air groups, associated ducts and electricity), where of course we had to integrate them nicely into the renovated whole," says Guy Van der Kuylen, architect-partner at assar architects. "In the oncology department, we went one step further, as more space had to be created for consultations. So there we needed not only a renovation, but also a complete redesign and an extension."

One of the hospital's main requirements was that services had to remain operational during the renovation work. "Especially in the case of oncology, this was a challenge," Van der Kuylen points out. "We divided the work there into four phases, in the first of which we immediately realized the expansion, in the form of a new construction section on the ground floor. Not an easy task, since that volume had to be right above a high-voltage room and the radiology department on level -1. Everything had to remain bone-dry when the existing roof was removed. Moreover, we had to build on the underlying concrete structure. So a lot came together in that small area. Fortunately, contractors Dillen (structural work), Gielen (electricity) and Rayen Projects (HVAC) handled that excellently."

Once the new building was completed and commissioned, the next phases could begin, with strict requirements in terms of site organization and hospital hygiene. "It was important to avoid dust and noise as much as possible, because we were working right there in the middle of the hospital," Van der Kuylen explains. "Of course, we also had to take the existing fire compartmentation into account. All this took some doing, but in the end it worked out well. The hematology department also had to remain operational, but there the exercise was a little easier because that department was smaller - 410 m² for hematology versus 925 m² for oncology - and the various rooms were a little more spread out, so it was easier to take them out of rotation temporarily."

So although the architectural approach was slightly different for both departments, there was an important common thread: refreshing the interior. Led by interior designer Astrid Theunis, the outdated departments underwent a true metamorphosis. "We also doctored a completely new interior concept at the earlier expansion of the emergency department. We continued that line in the hematology and oncology departments, with the intention of turning them into warm, homey care environments. Instead of classic white, which often comes across as cold and clinical in a hospital setting, we opted for soft colors and materials. So we integrated many wood accents, chose soothing shades for floor or wall finishes, installed beautiful seating and stylish lighting, ... All interior elements are meticulously coordinated. It took many meetings with the service staff to finalize everything and work it out in detail, including the creation of the necessary 3D views. All those efforts paid off, because the picture is completely right!"