Building hospitals & clinics in modular construction

Rethinking hospital construction

Today more than ever, building or expanding a hospital is a balancing act between social responsibility, economic pressure and medical standards. Hospitals are under increasing pressure to reform, while staff shortages, investment backlogs and rising operating costs are restricting their room for manoeuvre. At the same time, patients expect modern care that is close to home, efficient and prioritises the patient's speedy recovery.

In this area of conflict, the question arises: How can hospital planning be achieved that makes medical sense, is economically viable and at the same time sustainable? How can conversions or new buildings be realised during ongoing operations without risking gaps in care? And how can the patient remain at the centre of all construction decisions? Sound hospital planning begins with a clear needs analysis, the definition of target medical structures and close coordination with all those involved, from the hospital management and specialist planners to the users on site One thing is clear: architecture is never an end in itself. It should create a healing environment, enable functional processes and offer spaces in which patients feel safe and staff enjoy working.

70% shorter construction time and reliable scheduling thanks to weather-independent, serial production.

Planning and investment security thanks to a fixed price guarantee.

Clean and quiet construction sites thanks to a high degree of prefabrication.

Low life cycle costs thanks to integrated planning.

Sustainable construction through optimized use of resources.

Controlled quality through certified factory production.

High flexibility thanks to a self-supporting steel skeleton structure with non-load-bearing walls.

Appealing architecture thanks to individual cubature, floor plan, and facade design.

FAQ on modular hospitals

A hospital consists of a large number of specialised areas that together provide comprehensive medical care. Central to this are the medical-functional units such as the emergency department, operating theatres, intensive care unit, diagnostics (e.g. radiology, laboratory) and specialist outpatient clinics. There are also nursing areas such as general and specialist wards, isolation and palliative care wards, which are responsible for the inpatient care of patients.

There are also numerous supporting structures: administration, patient admission, IT, controlling and human resources ensure organisational processes. Technical areas such as the kitchen, warehouse, sterilisation, building services and logistics take care of operations in the background. The hospital is complemented by recreation and service areas such as the cafeteria, visitor areas, pastoral care and green spaces - all with the aim of creating a healing environment for patients and good working conditions for staff.

It is particularly important to carefully harmonise construction processes and clinic operations when extending existing buildings. ALHO's modular construction method is particularly suitable for such scenarios: Thanks to a high level of prefabrication in the factory, we minimise noise, dust and construction site logistics on site. Modules can be assembled and put into operation in a short space of time - without disrupting ongoing patient care.

Hospitals are subject to extensive structural and technical requirements - from fire protection and hygiene to accessibility. ALHO plans and realises hospital buildings in accordance with all relevant standards, including DIN 13080, DIN 1946-4 and the hygiene requirements of the German Infection Protection Act and KRINKO recommendations. Our modular system construction fulfils the highest quality standards and is regularly certified by independent test centres - for maximum planning reliability and functionality in everyday medical practice.

In modular construction, complete room units - known as modules - are industrially prefabricated in the factory, including building services, surfaces, doors and windows. These modules are quickly assembled on site to form a finished building. This significantly reduces the construction time without compromising on quality or functionality. For hospital construction, this means precise planning, minimal disruption to ongoing operations and a high degree of prefabrication with maximum customisability.

When building a hospital, medical processes, hygiene specifications, technical standards, economic efficiency and legal requirements must be seamlessly combined. At the same time, it is important to minimise disruption to hospital operations and create sustainable solutions. As a general contractor, ALHO provides all services from a single source - from planning and modular construction to equipment, medical technology coordination and outdoor facilities.

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Hospital reform: Structural responses to structural changes

The hospital reform, which came into force at the beginning of 2025 with the Hospital Care Improvement Act (KHVVG), will bring far-reaching changes for hospital operators. The aim of the reform is to future-proof inpatient care - through clearly defined service groups, new remuneration models and greater specialisation. For many hospitals, this means that remodelling, restructuring or extending existing buildings will be unavoidable. Implementation will be gradual: The federal states have until the end of 2026 to allocate the service groups for their hospitals. The transformation process will be supported by a state fund with a total volume of 50 billion euros, which will be available over ten years for investments in conversion, new construction or reorganisation.

The hospital reform is therefore not only a health policy project, but also an infrastructural one. It requires sustainable construction concepts that take equal account of specialisation, interdisciplinarity and regional security of supply.

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