The new 1.9 million SF, 1,200-bed Seoul St. Mary's Hospital responds to the hospital’s need for a more flexible and space efficient facility. The existing design struggled to provide the adaptability that is necessary for a high-demand, urban medical center. 

ARCADIS subsidiary, RTKL, identified three main inefficiencies with the original design. The first emerged in the patient care center, where standard five-bed wards were not meeting the changing needs of patients and visitors. RTKL addressed the problem with expertise in flexible room design by adding family waiting areas and day areas. The second issue stemmed from the surgical unit, which suffered from inefficient flow patterns between rooms, supplies and staff. Designers created a single clean core from which hygienic supplies and staff could circulate without crossing paths with soiled materials. Finally, the emergency department, originally plagued with poor patient traffic flow, benefited from a new orderly and clear design that speeds the observation and treatment process. RTKL’s redesign of the Seoul St. Mary's Hospital provides much-needed modifications for a successful and flexible future.