Advanced Sustainability and Green Design

University Hospitals Ahuja Medical Center Offers Sustainability and Green Design

When developing UH Ahuja Medical Center, designers and University Hospitals leadership sought to create an environment that fosters wellness and healthy living. By implementing advanced sustainability and green design principles, this hospital offers patients, staff, visitors and the greater community an exceptional model of care.

Energy Performance

• The facility is organized to maximize the use of natural light – enhancing energy efficiency and patient satisfaction.
• The roofs of the building are white, which will absorb less heat and lower energy use.
• Facility design provides a safe, supportive work environment with optimal ergonomic and operational efficiencies.
• Design, engineering and operational practices minimize waste through recycling protocols, improved water and energy conservation practices, and elevated indoor air quality by eliminating toxic materials and minimizing harsh cleaning agents.

Water Preservation

• As part of UH Ahuja Medical Center’s environmentally sensitive design, the campus features bioswales in landscaped areas to reduce runoff waters and increase onsite filtration of oils and debris from parking surfaces.
• Walkways and gardens wind throughout the campus and existing natural landscapes have been preserved, further conserving resources by requiring less maintenance and irrigation.
• Native plants are used in the landscaping to restore natural habitat, and because they require less water and maintenance.
• Water-efficient plumbing fixtures reduce the use of water by 25 percent.

Green Design Cost Efficiency

• The building is designed to integrate nature. Working with the protected wetlands onsite and enhancing and restoring much of the natural environment, the shape and form of the building work with the site to bring the outside in. Parking and traffic are convenient to entrances, to preserve as much of the green-space as possible and reduce disruption.
• Environmentally sustainable materials and innovative design elements to minimize energy costs and harmful impact on the environment.
• Interior finishes chosen both for their aesthetic appeal and because they do not produce unhealthy off-gassing emissions.
• Dedicated areas for community wellness and health education.