BACK
Construction | Topping-Out Ceremony of NCKU Geriatric Hospital
2026-05-05
Recently, Architect Chang Ching-Hua attended the topping-out ceremony for National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) Geriatric Hospital. The project is planned as a 12-story building above ground with 5 basement levels, accommodating approximately 450 beds. It will become Taiwan’s first demonstration hospital dedicated exclusively to elderly care.
The hospital is centered on the concept of a “wall-less” environment that breaks down traditional boundaries. It integrates acute care, post-acute care, rehabilitation, hospice care, and psychiatric day care into a comprehensive service model. Advanced smart healthcare technologies and age-friendly spatial design are incorporated to extend medical services beyond clinical settings into communities and homes, providing seniors with a seamless, one-stop continuum of care.
In response to the site’s existing lush surroundings, the design team introduces layered green terraces that extend greenery vertically throughout the building. Solar panels are installed on the rooftop to harness the abundant sunlight of southern Taiwan, realizing a “dual-green hospital” that combines ecological integration with energy efficiency.
Furthermore, through the design of setback terraces and private patient balconies, each patient is afforded open views of the surrounding environment. These visual connections aim to support psychological well-being and promote recovery, embodying a healing environment centered on human needs.
