Interim Solution: Lufthafen – A Sustainable Long-Term Perspective

As part of the interim measures associated with the construction of the new I-Building at Altona Children's Hospital, an existing shell space on the first floor of the Lufthafen building will be activated and converted into a modern inpatient ward with eight patient rooms, each including en-suite sanitary facilities, as well as the necessary support rooms. The existing building envelope and pre-installed infrastructure enable an efficient, resource-conscious implementation.
During the interim phase, the new ward will provide care for children and adolescents requiring general pediatric treatment. As an independent nursing unit with an existing nurses' station, it allows for a separate and fully functional ward operation.

The long-term use of the space has been considered from the outset of the planning process. Following completion of the new I-Building, the area will be permanently integrated into the hospital's inpatient services at the Lufthafen facility. The planned future use includes expanding the capacity for ventilated patients and creating additional intensive care facilities. Owing to its location and technical infrastructure, the ward is also particularly well suited to providing hygienically safe patient care in the event of future pandemics.

The project therefore combines the provision of essential interim accommodation with a sustainable, future-oriented enhancement of the hospital's medical infrastructure.

Interim Solution: Vertical Extension of the Rehabilitation Building – Flexible Interim Space with Long-Term Value

In the northern section of Altona Children's Hospital, an existing rehabilitation building will be extended by several additional floors to provide urgently required interim accommodation during the construction of the new I-Building. Thanks to its direct connection to the existing hospital infrastructure and its proximity to the North Extension, the new areas will create functionally integrated and highly flexible clinical units.

During the interim phase, the new spaces will accommodate a range of medical services, including day-care pediatric treatment, inpatient wards for general pediatrics and pediatric surgery, as well as facilities for child and adolescent psychiatry. This will ensure uninterrupted patient care throughout the construction period despite the extensive organizational restructuring required.

Long-term reuse has been an integral part of the planning concept from the beginning. Once the interim phase has ended, the additional space will be permanently dedicated to modern pediatric and child and adolescent mental health services. Planned developments include a psychosomatic day hospital, new therapy and patient recreation areas, and expanded family-oriented services such as a parent-child unit.

By consolidating child and adolescent psychiatry within a single building, the project will also create valuable functional synergies and support the implementation of contemporary therapeutic models. The project therefore combines short-term operational requirements with the sustainable, future-oriented development of the hospital campus.

Preparatory Construction Measures – Securing Infrastructure and Maintaining Clinical Operations

Comprehensive preparatory construction measures have been developed to ensure the uninterrupted operation of the hospital throughout the demolition of the existing I-Building and the construction of its replacement. These measures include both the adaptation of an existing ward on the first floor of the H-Building and the reorganization of key elements of the hospital's building services infrastructure.
For the interim period, an existing ward in the H-Building will be refurbished to accommodate pediatric surgery and pediatric trauma patients. Its immediate proximity to the operating theatres provides an efficient and safe clinical environment while routine hospital operations continue. Through targeted interventions within the existing building structure, the former inpatient ward can be reused temporarily in a cost-effective manner.

At the same time, the hospital's technical supply and service infrastructure will undergo a comprehensive and sustainable reorganization. Numerous utility lines and technical systems currently located within or attached to the existing I-Building will be relocated and reconfigured so that they can continue to serve the hospital long after the completion of the new building. This approach creates resilient, future-proof infrastructure with a high level of operational reliability.

Future use has also been incorporated into the planning from an early stage. Following the interim phase, the areas within the listed historic section of the H-Building will be converted into modern administrative offices and meeting facilities for nursing staff and physicians. This will provide contemporary working environments that support interdisciplinary collaboration while meeting the growing demands of clinical documentation and communication.