The hospital owes the distinction to Ellerbe Becket, global leaders in architectural design and construction industry, for modeling the facility with a structural concept that merges its profile as a modern and sustainable healthcare service provider with the rich cultural heritage of the region, said an official.

The award will be presented in the US to University Hospital in November during ’the Healthcare Design Conference’, considered to be the industry’s most respected convention on evidence-based design for healthcare.

The distinction recognizes University Hospital for aiming to create an environment that is functional, aesthetically appealing and promotes efficiency, while enhancing the emotional well-being and physical comfort of patients, staff and visitors.

Out of the 177 projects reviewed at the annual Healthcare Design Architectural Review in Chicago in May this year, 14 were outside the US.

Evaluated by a jury of 20 experts in architecture, interior design, healthcare planning, regulatory compliance, and international architecture, the University Hospital is the only international project selected for the ‘Citation of Merit’.

Dr. Muhadditha Al Hashimi, CEO of DHCC, said: ’We are delighted to receive the international citation from Healthcare Design magazine, which seeks to highlight the role of design in the delivery of quality health care.

Demand for such medical institutions will grow significantly with the rapid expansion of the healthcare sector. Our mission at DHCC is to provide the platform to facilitate their growth in the region for achieving our aim of offering high quality healthcare, research and education services.'

Mic Johnson, design principal for Ellerbe Becket, said: 'We have designed the University Hospital with the highest standards in mind, incorporating latest advances in care technology and healing in a building that fuses the best of modernism with the traditional architecture of the region.'

Physically connected and academically affiliated with Harvard Medical School Dubai Center (HMSDC), also a member of Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Academic Medical Center, the University Hospital will be equipped with the technological and intellectual resources to develop a sustainable healthcare delivery model for the region when complete in 2011.

James Kingsbury, CEO of the University Hospital, dubbed it as a great recognition and accomplishment for the University Hospital.

’The (Ellerbe Becket) design team is an exceptional group of experienced professionals that has managed to fulfill our inspirations to produce a significant, high quality piece of architecture and engineering that will match our high quality of care offerings and support healing.'

The 1.40-million sq. ft. University Hospital will feature a 400-bed tower with universal rooms, filtered with natural light across all acute and intensive care settings. The flexible floor plates will accommodate a variety of nursing requirements, as well as VIP and Royal Suites.

In addition, the University Hospital will comprise a four-storey diagnostic and treatment base inspired by traditional forms of regional architecture.

The hospital will share gardens with the adjacent HMSDC, creating a healing ambience across both indoor and outdoor environments.

The interior layout will allow convenient accessibility of patients and their families to healthcare resources as well as social and educational hospital programs.