A new innovative prototype to rethink the hospital experience

Developed using an immersive virtual model, this new room concept has been designed to transform the hospital experience: the goal is to reduce patient stress, facilitate the daily work of healthcare staff, and create an environment that promotes healing. 

The prototype, developed in line with our Care+Design approach, focuses on a realistic and responsible layout where space has been rethought and optimized to offer more comfort to patients while allowing healthcare staff to move easily and perform their tasks with ease. 

The result of knowledge gained during the construction of the new hospital complex (NHC) and presented to Santé Québec representatives and network stakeholders, this prototype demonstrates that it is possible to innovate while respecting constraints, notably through: 

• Significant optimization of surface area per room, maximizing space utilization;
• Substantial savings per square meter, contributing to better cost and timeline management; 
• Full maintenance of clinical, ergonomic and human standards, without compromise on quality of care or safety. 

“It is by leveraging these learnings that we can build a more agile, more relevant and more sustainable healthcare system for all of Quebec,” states Christine Mimeault, Associate Director General of CHU de Québec–Université Laval.

Balancing comfort and costs  

Beyond financial savings and space optimization, this project primarily aims to generate tangible benefits for the people who live and work in these environments. 

“Positive savings are not measured solely in dollars. They translate into human, social and environmental gains. This is the expanded vision of value that we are putting forward in this project,” explains architect Antoine Buisseret, partner at Lemay. 

The prototype demonstrates that a room can be simultaneously more functional, more welcoming and more economical. It maintains all essential clinical and ergonomic standards, while creating an atmosphere that supports the healing process and staff well-being. 

In a context where Quebec’s healthcare network faces significant challenges and issues, this innovation addresses an urgent need: to provide quality care in environments designed for the people who use them. The project is part of the Quebec government’s Health Plan and paves the way for new ways of designing our hospitals, in Quebec and internationally. 

Check out this article on Care+Design to learn more about this approach.