Nicholas Clark Architects has been working with Partners In Health (Boston, MA) on the design of a new hospital facility in Mirebalais located in the Central Plateau region of Haiti.  Mirebalais is a town of approximately 60,000 and the hospital will serve a catchment area of approximately 200,000 people serving 500-600 patients per day.  This will replace an old hospital which is virtually nonfunctional and was in the process of being closed down in January 2009. 

The new 45,820 s.f. hospital incorporates 9,310 s.f. of garden courtyards and extensive natural ventilation to prevent the transmission of tuberculosis and other airborne diseases.  In keeping with the philosophy of PIH, the project incorporates a multitude of sustainable practices including concern for Equity, Environment and Economics: The Triple Bottom Line. 

The building utilizes the following to achieve this:

• commonly practiced local building technology (poured in place reinforced concrete)

• locally manufactured windows

• breezeways and courtyards with native plantings to provide family gathering areas and healing environments for patients

• natural lighting as the primary source of light in order to conserve energy for hospital equipment usage and night time lighting requirements

• Metal work by local artisans using local materials

• Tropical location promotes ideal use of photovoltaic panels to supplement power generation

• Tropical climate promotes rainwater harvesting to be used for irrigation of native planted gardens during dry season

• Reclaimed wood from construction site for hospital waiting area benches and other furniture

The hospital will contain an outpatient clinic with 12 consultation rooms, large naturally ventilated waiting area, emergency room, medical records, laboratory, pharmacy and administrative offices, as well as a malnutrition office and HIV clinic. The inpatient services will consist of separate men’s, women’s and children’s wards that can accommodate approximately 25- 30 beds per ward. In addition, there are eleven isolation rooms to accommodate TB patients.