Construction has begun on the Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi (CCAD) Hospital, United Arab Emirates, the much-anticipated "hospital of the future." The CCAD hospital will employ the latest technologies, patient-centered care and evidence-based design to assist in healing patients and improving clinical outcomes.

HDR Architecture was selected as the master architect to design the new CCAD, and was awarded the project through an international design competition.

The design blurs the lines between hospitality and hospital. The master plan is based on a village concept, explains Alexander Wu, design director. "The central tower stands as a beacon for healthcare along the island's waterfront, and is supported by a large community piazza that includes a reflecting pool, parks and lushly landscaped gardens. A floating gallery connects the administration building with the hospital. This important transparent structure is the key public celebratory space providing amenities such as retail, food service, and living spaces."

Both indoor and outdoor spaces are purposefully designed to offer healing environments, gathering spaces, and wayfinding. Featuring soothing water features, the expansive gardens create places that build a sense of community within the setting by fostering human interaction.

Since the summer 2007, HDR has worked with more than 50 Cleveland Clinic physicians, administrators and nurses, accumulating several hundred hours of user group meetings and design charrettes. "These brainstorming sessions helped to ensure that upon completion, CCAD will be five years ahead of state-of-the-art," explains Wu.

HDR hopes to achieve LEED Gold Certification, despite the climate’s harsh challenges. "A dual curtain wall design serves as a kind of 'respiratory system' for the building," describes Wu. "Air is circulated between the glass walls to insulate the building from the climate, helping to significantly reduce the building's cooling load. Other sustainable design features include the use of photovoltaics to relieve electrical loads and the reuse of gray water and storm water to reduce dependency on desalinated water."

Scheduled for completion in 2011, the 360-bed hospital and clinic is located on Al Sowa Island, adjacent to the new Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange.