Crises can propel innovation in construction. Wars, pandemics, natural disasters, and political refugee migrations, have all commanded systems to expedite sheltering or rebuilding processes. The recent Covid-19 pandemic defined a need to erect adaptable clinics, hospitals and even morgues to either expand hospitalization capacity or in more acute cases to isolate and quarantine patients. Beyond the treatment of infected patients, separate testing and vaccination centers increased the strain on healthcare infrastructure. Arenas, congress centers or large gathering spaces were requisitioned to be momentarily transformed. Modular construction of popup hospitals was effectively displayed in the pandemic’s early phase; the two-story 1,000-bed Huoshenshan hospital was completed in 10 days. The overlapping of module production while preparing a site for construction, the main advantage of offsite construction, can lead to substantial time savings as demonstrated by the field facility in China.
Another example, STAATMOD (Strategic, Temporary, Acuity-Adaptable Treatment), developed by multidisciplinary American design firm HGA and produced by the Boldt company, is a pop-up multi-use modular volumetric field hospital. Each container-like volume integrates state-of-the art medical equipment and mechanical amenities to achieve the same level of care associated with conventionally built facilities. Designed for flexibility and adaptability, the boxes can be used as stand-alone clinics or clustered into dynamic organizations growing or shrinking the hospital as required by changing needs and conditions. Each basic building block unit is a modular 12.5 foot-wide x 40-foot-long x 10-foot high standard ISO sized volume. Many aggregations and assemblies are possible. The H-plan, repeatable, pattern illustrated by the architects proposes to build field facilities in isolatable wings to reduce contagion. Units can be delivered and set on exterior lots on permanent or temporary foundations or fitted into converted convention halls. The self-contained STAATMOD modules are a completely manufactured and hermetically sealed box. Their factory production is more conducive to quality control. Attaining a sterilized medical environment that is delivered quickly, inspected in a controlled workshop, and commissioned on delivery are other advantages of offsite construction as modules can be finished, and individually wrapped before being plugged in to keep them completely sanitized.
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| Modular Field Hospital - design by HGA |
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