Healthy heights: vertical hospitals on the rise

If you’ve ever received care on the 30th floor of a hospital in Houston, Hong Kong or London, you know the experience is both unique and transformative. Yet, as a healthcare architect explains, these towering, 140-metre-plus healthcare facilities are no longer anomalies — they’re becoming a global standard.

Throughout my international career as a healthcare architect, I've had the privilege of designing numerous high-rise hospitals. My work has taken me across continents — from Singapore and Southeast Asia to Northern Europe and North America — where I’ve observed firsthand the burgeoning trend of vertical healthcare design.

Urban centres worldwide are grappling with challenges like limited land availability, traffic congestion and the need for increased public and pedestrian spaces. Vertical, high-density developments offer a compelling solution, not just in commercial and residential sectors but increasingly in education, research and healthcare facilities.

Hospitals are embracing verticality to enhance clinical effectiveness, streamline support services and, most importantly, improve patient outcomes and accessibility. This shift isn't entirely new; the trend traces back to structures like Guy’s Hospital in London, which held the title of the world's tallest hospital from 1974 until 1990. It was later surpassed by the O’Quinn Medical Tower in Houston and then by Hong Kong's Li Shu Pui Building.

The Tower Wing (centre) of Guy’s Hospital in London, designed by Watkins Gray for the NHS, is one of the world’s tallest healthcare buildings, despite being overshadowed by its 309m+ tall neighbour, The Shard — the city’s highest tower. Photographer: Morley von Sternberg

So, what’s driving this ascent in hospital design? Several advantages come to mind:

• Efficient land use — vertical designs make optimal use of limited urban land, allowing for a greater concentration of clinical disciplines, educational and research facilities, and support services within a smaller footprint.
• Enhanced patient care — by grouping related services on the same floors, vertical hospitals reduce the need for patients to move between departments, streamlining care and improving the patient experience.
• Staff efficiency — vertical layouts minimise the time staff spend moving between floors or departments, enhancing response times and overall patient care.
• Optimised workflows — these hospitals facilitate logical workflows, minimising unnecessary movement and maximising operational efficiency. This is particularly beneficial when integrating automated logistics-support robots and vertical transport systems.
• Healing environments — upper-floor patient rooms offer expansive views and increased natural light, creating a more pleasant environment for both patients and staff.
• Integrated green spaces — incorporating rooftop gardens and stacked balconies supports recovery and provides respite areas for staff, aligning with research that highlights the positive impact of biophilic design on wellbeing and recovery rates.
• Improved accessibility — strategically placed elevators, ramps and staircases enhance movement throughout the facility for both patients and staff.

The under-construction Health Translation Hub in Randwick, NSW — designed by Architectus for UNSW and Plenary Health. Courtesy Architectus

The rise of vertical hospitals represents a significant evolution in healthcare design, addressing the pressing needs of modern urban environments while prioritising patient care and staff efficiency. As cities continue to grow and space becomes increasingly scarce, I believe we’ll see more healthcare facilities reaching for the skies.

*Bruce Crook is a Principal at Architectus.

Top image caption: The Victorian Heart Hospital in Clayton, Victoria — looking up. Completed in 2022, it is the southern hemisphere’s first dedicated cardiac hospital — designed by Architectus for Monash University and Victorian Health Building Authority. Photographer: Peter Bennetts