Envisioning a Smart Hospital of the Future

Situated along Beijing’s iconic Chang’an Avenue, a landmark hospital is undergoing a remarkable transformation to upgrade its facilities. Serving a vast and diverse population, the hospital is already renowned for its contributions to scientific research, disease prevention, and community health. This latest project involves a complete modernization, blending the character of its original 1950s architecture with cutting-edge technology and medical infrastructure, including advanced surgical wards, specialized treatment areas, and high-tech diagnostic facilities.

Harmonizing the old and the new is just one part of the challenge. The upgraded design must also optimize the hospital’s workflows and processes. Tackling this requires more than traditional approaches, it calls for innovative digital tools to manage the complexities of smart hospital design and operation.

Leading this ambitious renovation is the Beijing Institute of Architectural Design (BIAD). The Chinese architectural design firm has deployed Dassault Systèmes’ solutions to explore new methods in architectural design, construction, and operation, and break down siloes across disciplines. Its aim: to create a cohesive environment that benefits medical professionals, improves the patient experience, enhances operational efficiency, and delivers a future-proof and sustainable smart hospital for the years to come.

“Collaborating with Dassault Systèmes allows us to integrate advanced modeling and simulation technologies into our architectural designs, redefining how hospitals are designed, built, and operated in China’s new, sustainable era,” said Xu Quansheng, party secretary and chairman of BIAD. “Traditionally, hospital design focused solely on form and function. Now, with digital tools, we address the needs of doctors, patients, operators, and investors. Using process simulation and experiential modeling, we can develop comprehensive, integrated solutions before construction even begins.”