Concepts for a sustainable hospital

The Department of Systems Design Engineering (SYDE) invited President Vivek Goel and local sustainability and healthcare stakeholders for a showcase of student-led design concepts for a sustainable hospital.

Led by SYDE Professor and Chair Dr. Lisa Aultman-Hall, the course SYDE 599: Planning for Design of a Sustainable Hospital System challenged students to reimagine sustainability in the healthcare system. Working in teams, students explored innovative solutions to the resource constraints of healthcare settings, consulting with healthcare professionals, architects, and other experts to assess the feasibility and impact of their designs.

Key design features included improved transportation efficiency, innovations to support staff well-being and long-term healthcare careers, and strategies for green energy generation, storage, and conservation.

President Goel, who played a key role in securing the University’s North Campus as the site for a new regional hospital, praised the students’ work. The new hospital aims to integrate Waterloo’s research and innovation strengths with community healthcare needs.

The course models for how sustainability and human-centered design can come together to shape the future of healthcare.