{"id":15284,"date":"2022-02-03T13:52:31","date_gmt":"2022-02-03T08:22:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/media.biltrax.com\/?p=15284"},"modified":"2022-03-08T16:08:58","modified_gmt":"2022-03-08T10:38:58","slug":"can-depleted-buildings-solve-indias-healthcare-crisis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/sh040.global.temp.domains\/~vitamind\/biltrax.mediacontent\/can-depleted-buildings-solve-indias-healthcare-crisis\/","title":{"rendered":"Can depleted buildings solve India\u2019s healthcare crisis?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Ravideep Singh, the Associate Director at Creative Designer Architects, New Delhi, explains how adaptive reuse in depleted healthcare buildings can bolster our preparedness for future pandemic waves.<\/em><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

While healthcare systems across the world struggled with the pandemic in 2020, India\u2019s healthcare infrastructure is now grappling with the third wave. Insufficient beds, lack of medical infrastructure, and overworked staff added tremendous pressure on our healthcare system. In addition, rapid urbanisation has led to increased disused buildings and neglected construction sites. With green building codes and energy-efficient guidelines making their way into building designs, we are beginning to see the dis-composing irony of building sustainable infrastructure.<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Preparing for the future <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, as India continues to battle another wave of the pandemic, it has become imperative for architects, healthcare professionals and policymakers to look beyond conventional approaches. While make-shift beds, portable oxygen cylinders and overworked staff were synonymous with the first two waves, India requires a much more sustainable approach to healthcare infrastructure that is prepared to tackle future medical challenges. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Climate change, combined with the pandemic\u2019s catastrophes, has led to the emergence of alternative approaches to building sustainable and efficient healthcare infrastructure. One such approach is \u2018adaptive reuse\u2019 of older, depleted or otherwise vacant buildings. Adaptively repurposing and reusing existing built structures has been a successful endeavour for several industrial and commercial projects. The efficacy of adaptive reuse especially in healthcare, even though sceptic initially, is gradually gaining meaningful acceptance. In the race to outrun the Covid-19 variants, healthcare professionals, architects, and planners are working in tandem to investigate adaptive reuse as an alternative approach to create sustainable and economical medical infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adaptive reuse in healthcare buildings<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Owing to the peculiar requirements of a hospital building, adaptively reusing existing buildings can be a challenging endeavour. However, with careful consideration and meticulous planning, this approach offers multi-fold benefits \u2013 financial, environmental and communal. The feasibility of a hospital depends on its location, visibility, and accessibility.  Hospital buildings generally require loftier floor-to-floor heights to accommodate the complex mechanical and service systems. Low structural floor heights in older buildings often challenge repurposing and lead to increasing costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Accounting for the constantly evolving technology and medical equipment, architects must also consider the potential of future MEP induction in the existing structure. However, with meticulous planning, healthcare architects can overcome these challenges to create an operationally and financially efficient healthcare building.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n