The Critical Care Unit at the Mid-West Regional Hospital, designed by OCMA in partnership with Murray O’Laoire Architects as part of the winning Design-build team led by Sisk, represents a significant investment by the HSE in the Dooradoyle Campus. This project embodies a commitment to enhancing patient care through thoughtful, sustainable design, reflecting best practices in infection control and healthcare planning.
The six-storey building, set over two levels of basement car parking, is composed of two architectural blocks, separated by a full-height glazed strip that highlights the new hospital street. This street serves as the primary organising element of the plan, facilitating clear circulation and segregated access for patients, staff, visitors, and facilities management. The streets are served by two vertical circulation cores, one providing visitor and service access to all levels and the other providing emergency access from the new ambulance forecourt. The modern granite-clad façade forms a new urban edge for the hospital campus, contributing to the site’s evolving architectural landscape.
Inside, the building is designed with patient care and staff efficiency in mind. The internal environment prioritises clarity of circulation and ease of observation in a patient centred environment. Natural light and ventilation are key elements, enhancing the clinical spaces while adhering to healthcare guidelines. The project’s design ensured the surrounding hospital remained fully operational during construction, necessitating meticulous coordination of the complex medical services required for modern critical care.
Through the use of sustainable, long-lasting materials like stone and metal glazing systems, the building achieved a BER rating of B1, highlighting its energy efficiency despite the high service demands of critical care facilities. The new unit stands as a testament to innovative healthcare design, contributing to the hospital’s mission to deliver exceptional patient care.
LocationUniversity Hospital Limerick, Limerick
ClientHSE Mid-West / Sisk
ServiceFull Architectural Services
Area14,500 sqm
Value€15 million
StatusCompleted
PerformanceBER B1
