Urgent Care Center

In contemporary healthcare, architecture increasingly serves not merely as a setting for medical processes, but as an integral tool within them. This is particularly true in emergency care, where spatial organization directly affects the speed of decision-making, patient flows, and the efficiency of medical teams. This understanding formed the starting point for the design of a new triage and short-term intensive observation unit at the First Medical Union of Lviv.

The need for the project became particularly urgent following the start of the full-scale war. Lviv has become one of the country’s key medical hubs, receiving patients with combat trauma, severe injuries, and emergency conditions on a daily basis. In these circumstances, the first hours after a patient arrives at the hospital are critical. During this period, the right spatial organization can be just as important as the treatment itself.

The project involves the reconstruction of part of the third block of the main hospital building and the addition of a new single-storey volume of over 700 m². It accommodates a modern triage area and a short-term intensive observation unit for emergency patients — a space operating at the intersection of emergency care, diagnostics, and clinical decision-making.

The project’s primary goal is to create a fully integrated unit for patient admission, triage, and initial observation, where every patient enters a clearly organized system from the moment of arrival. Patient flows are separated according to urgency levels in line with current medical protocols, while dedicated spaces support stabilization, vital-sign monitoring, and diagnostic procedures. During the first 24 hours, physicians are able to make informed clinical decisions regarding further treatment or hospitalization without placing additional pressure on inpatient departments.

The building’s spatial organization is entirely shaped by the logic of emergency medicine. The layout follows the principle of a rapid patient pathway — from arrival and triage to initial stabilization, diagnostics, and further observation. Functional zoning separates patient flows according to the severity of their condition and minimizes the time between key stages of care.

The new volume is located between the third and fourth blocks of the main hospital building, forming a natural extension of the existing infrastructure. The main entrance is designed to provide rapid vehicle access and efficient patient admission, while the internal circulation system ensures seamless integration of the new unit into the medical complex.

One of the key advantages of the design is its integration into the hospital’s existing structure. Rather than creating a stand-alone facility, the project makes use of established resources, including the clinical diagnostic laboratory, central sterilization department, laundry, and food service facilities. This approach improves operational efficiency, avoids duplication of functions, and makes the most rational use of the hospital’s existing capacity.

The relationship with the natural environment plays a significant role in the project concept. In healthcare architecture, this goes far beyond aesthetics. Natural light, greenery, and visual contact with nature can positively influence patients’ psychological well-being, support recovery, and improve working conditions for medical staff.

For this reason, one of the project’s key elements is a panoramic post-and-beam façade system extending over 40 metres. It opens the interiors towards the landscaped hospital grounds, provides abundant natural light, and creates a continuous visual connection between the interior and its surroundings.

Another important design decision was to preserve a mature birch tree already growing on the site. Rather than treating the tree as a constraint, the architectural concept integrates it into the complex. The new volume effectively forms a space around it, leaving sufficient light and room for its continued growth. As a result, the tree becomes a natural focal point of the site and an integral part of the atmosphere of the new healthcare environment.

The idea of interaction between architecture and nature is further developed through the green roof. It not only improves the building’s energy efficiency and protects its structures from overheating, but also helps integrate the new volume gently into the hospital grounds. For us, it was a way to make a highly technical medical facility part of a more humane and comfortable environment.

The architectural solution combines functionality with durability. A ventilated façade with fibre-cement cladding and an energy-efficient insulation system provides resistance to external conditions and ensures long-term performance. The interiors meet contemporary healthcare standards, using hygienic, durable, and easy-to-disinfect materials, safe finishes, and specialized solutions designed for spaces subject to intensive medical use.

Despite its relatively compact footprint of approximately 1,000 m², the project addresses a critical challenge for the entire hospital: creating a dedicated unit capable of operating efficiently under increased pressure and during mass patient admissions.

In this project, architecture is not simply a backdrop for medical processes, but an integral part of them. Through clear spatial planning, carefully designed patient flows, integration with the natural environment, and contemporary technological solutions, the space enables medical teams to work more efficiently while helping patients navigate one of the most critical stages of treatment in a safer, clearer, and more humane environment.