National University Hospital Medical Centre and Cancer Institute of Singapore

Transforming clinical care, teaching and research in a world-class ambulatory care setting

Singapore

Kahler Slater is working with National University Hospital in Singapore to design a new world-class healing, learning and teaching experience for cancer and ambulatory care that will integrate excellent clinical care, translational research and superior medical instruction to support their vision, “Shaping Medicine for the Future.” Kahler Slater’s Singapore office is completing the design for the new, 20-story, 775,000 SF Medical Centre complex which will house the National University Cancer Institute of Singapore (NCIS), eight specialist outpatient clinics and surgery suites, as well as teaching and research programs. As a prominent academic medical center, a major influence on the design was the teaching and educational experience. Core to the project was a complete re-imagining of the undergraduate medical student learning experience and a redesign of the curriculum.

Kahler Slater led the team in the redesign with benchmarking trips to other academic medical centers in South Korea, Taipei and the United States. The team conducted Visioning Workshops and focus groups with current NUH students, faculty and administration. The team then conducted four weeks of intensive observational research and rapid prototyping to more fully understand the existing clinical experiences and to test new and innovative operational and environmental ideas. This process resulted in major changes to room designs, furniture layouts, door locations and teaching practices. The new consult rooms are designed so that two medical students per room can observe doctor/patient care and interaction directly from the doctor’s perspective – which most closely replicates the actual clinical experience they will have as doctors. In addition, centralized “teaching hubs” were created, allowing students and faculty to learn together and debrief cases in an area that is separate from patient examination areas.

All who enter the light-filled building will experience a world-class, patient-centered environment including a light-filled atrium, sky gardens, and pocket parks. Built over a major subway station, the structurally complex facility will also include retail spaces, providing amenities for the patients and the general public.

Kahler Slater is working with local architect CIAP on this project.

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