Groundbreaking for New Dar Al Fouad Nasr City Hospital

On June 29, 2009, groundbreaking took place for the new Dar Al Fouad Hospital project in Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt. Designed by RBSD, the new hospital will offer a range of services, including maternity, an intensive care unit, and a large emergency department. Although the new building will have two separate functions--both as a general hospital and private office space for 238 doctors--the exterior will convey a unified, contemporary appearance with nods to ancient architecture.

The design takes advantage of the site's proximity to the nearby park. Visitors will be able to exit the main lobby and walk to the Memorial of the Unknown Soldier. To enable the building to adapt to the harsh climate in Cairo, RBSD selected surfaces that could be easily cleaned, and included sun-breaking devices and metal or glass canopies over the main entrances. When it opens at its prominent location along Cairo's busy Autostrade, the new hospital will be an eye-catching landmark that provides the developing neighborhood with the upscale healthcare facilities it requires.