More than three years after Russia’s invasion disrupted construction activity across Ukraine, a new paediatric hospital has opened in the western city of Brody, becoming the first newly built hospital completed in the country since 2022.
The 1,316m2 facility opens at a time when healthcare providers across parts of Ukraine continue to face mounting pressure from population displacement and changing regional demand.
Designed by CannonDesign as part of its public-interest design initiative Open Hand Studio, alongside architecture firm Pelli Clarke & Partners, the hospital was developed to address growing demand for paediatric care in the region while testing a modular approach that could be replicated elsewhere.
Located on the campus of Brody Central City Hospital, the municipality-owned building will be operated by the hospital’s existing team of more than 300 medical professionals. The project was delivered through a collaboration led by Sunflower Network, a non-profit organisation focused on rebuilding healthcare services in Ukraine.
The hospital is expected to serve more than 120,000 patients a year across western Ukraine.
The first new hospital to emerge from wartime Ukraine
Few healthcare buildings have been completed in Ukraine since the outbreak of the war. In Brody, demand for children’s healthcare has risen sharply as population movements have reshaped medical provision across the country. According to Sunflower Network, patient volume at Brody’s existing children’s hospital had more than doubled since 2022. Meeting that demand quickly became a central consideration in the project’s planning and delivery.
Brody was selected because of its role as a regional medical hub. Located less than 50 miles from the Polish border and along the Kyiv-to-Europe transport corridor, the city has become an important centre for healthcare services in western Ukraine.
How modular construction accelerated delivery
Wartime conditions presented practical challenges for the delivery of new healthcare infrastructure, influencing both the construction strategy and the building’s design.
The project adopted a modular construction strategy designed to reduce delivery times and limit dependence on specialised local labour. Building components were manufactured off-site before being transported for assembly, allowing the project team to streamline the construction process.
The approach was developed with future application in mind. Standardised building elements can be adapted for use elsewhere with limited redesign, creating a framework that could support healthcare projects in regions affected by conflict, natural disasters, or other large-scale disruptions.
Designing for children in a conflict-affected region
Delivering the hospital quickly was only part of the challenge. The design brief extended beyond clinical requirements. The hospital was designed for children and families living with the effects of prolonged conflict, placing equal emphasis on patient wellbeing and medical care.
Trauma-informed design principles shaped the building’s interiors, with an emphasis on natural daylight, visibility, and welcoming spaces. Waiting areas and treatment rooms were designed to feel less institutional, while artwork and interior finishes help create a more reassuring atmosphere for young patients.
Northwell Health, a US-based healthcare provider, served as the project’s clinical partner and contributed to the development of clinical workflows and patient care strategies.
The project also incorporates sustainability measures aimed at reducing energy consumption and material waste. Off-site construction formed a significant part of the delivery strategy, supporting both efficiency and environmental objectives.
A prototype for future healthcare rebuilding
The Brody hospital forms the first phase of a wider initiative led by Sunflower Network to support the rebuilding of healthcare facilities across Ukraine.
The project brought together an international team that included Pelli Clarke & Partners, Northwell Health, Hines, a global real estate investment and development company, Stanford Health Care, UCLA Health, Climatic, a Polish modular construction specialist, and local Ukrainian delivery partners.
Designed with future adaptation and expansion in mind, the hospital provides an early example of how standardised healthcare buildings can be delivered in regions where traditional construction methods face significant challenges.
The approach developed in Brody could help shape future healthcare projects across Ukraine as reconstruction efforts continue.
Images: Courtesy of CannonDesign