The expansion of St. Barbara Hospital incorporates the concept of modular architecture and prefabricated construction, ensuring that the historical structure and daily operations of the hospital remain unaffected, while providing an additional 2000 sqm space for diagnosis, treatment, and hospital beds. Serving as a connecting passage in the overall layout, from north to south, and combined with spatial and temporal operational optimization, this new building has significantly enhanced the efficiency of the entire hospital.

Established in 1894, St. Barbara Hospital is part of the renowned German medical group KKEL and currently serves as the sole hospital in Gladbeck, North Rhine-Westphalia.

The historical building faced a significant challenge with limited space and insufficient hospital beds to accommodate the growing number of patients. To address this issue, Gerber Architekten embraced the concept of modular expansion and successfully constructed a flexible new building while preserving the original structure.

A three-story new building has been constructed in the eastern courtyard, seamlessly integrating with the historical building in terms of height and layout. Additionally, it offers a direct passage between the northern and southern buildings of the hospital, enhancing internal circulation and convenience.

The new building not only provides accessibility between different areas but also offers additional space for diverse requirements, such as diagnosis and treatment. By optimizing resource allocation in terms of time and space, it maximizes overall efficiency.

In terms of space, the new building seamlessly connects with relevant functional areas as extensions of the northern and southern hospital buildings, accommodating various programs. The 1st floor serves as the reception and distribution station, the 2nd floor houses the neurology department and VIP ward, while the 3rd floor serves as the internal medicine station.

In terms of time, the new building considers different visiting periods. The 1st floor features a time-sharing admission ward, ensuring patients can quickly and centrally settle in at night (from 18:00 to 5:00 the next day) before being reassigned to other departments following examinations during the daytime.

Furthermore, all beds are designed to be used across disciplines, allowing for flexible adjustments in the future.

For the minimal disruption to the hospital's normal operation and meet the tight schedule, the new building was constructed using a prefabricated approach.

The construction process began with the implementation of a reinforced concrete strip foundation in the courtyard. Subsequently, 39 building modules, which were prefabricated in the factory, were assembled on the foundation. The advantage of complete prefabrication ensured that each building module met high-quality standards and came equipped with pre-installed electrical equipment, including wet batteries.

Besides saving resources and maintaining high hygienic standards, a modular medical building with standardized prefabrication can also be quickly constructed and expanded, even moved and reconfigured according to needs.

With the rising frequency and influence of public health emergencies, modular architecture may offer an innovative solution for the development of medical buildings.