Infectious Diseases Unit – Santa Maria Nuova Hospital

New pavilion under the national healthcare programme

The project involved the construction of the new Infectious Diseases Unit at Santa Maria Nuova Hospital in Reggio Emilia. It was developed within the national programme promoted by the Italian Ministry of Health in the early 1990s to provide specialised facilities for the treatment of AIDS.

The new pavilion is arranged over three levels and provides 40 inpatient beds. It was designed to integrate inpatient care, day hospital and outpatient services, together with spaces for admissions, diagnosis, treatment and medical offices.

Functional organisation and safety

The layout concentrates services and vertical connections within a central core, reducing staff travel distances and improving the efficiency of clinical activities. Particular attention was given to removing architectural barriers and ensuring full accessibility throughout the building.

Fire safety measures include REI-rated compartments around stairwells and lift shafts, protected escape routes and dedicated building systems for fire protection.

Structure and architectural language

The building has an in-situ reinforced concrete structure, with stair and lift cores contributing to its overall structural stability. The facades are defined by a restrained architectural language, combining exposed brick cladding, long horizontal windows and circular openings that give the pavilion a distinctive identity within the hospital complex.