A child-friendly expansion—from the therapy room to the park.
The expansion of the pediatric outpatient clinic at the Upper Styria Regional Hospital, Leoben campus, consisting of two basement levels, is part of the Leoben 2030/35 program. Directly below the already completed pediatric outpatient clinic, new areas for physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and special education for children were created, and on the second basement level, the child and adolescent psychiatry unit—which includes an outpatient area and a day clinic with 6 beds—was established. The physical proximity fosters synergies and facilitates collaboration between the two departments. The new facilities create a friendly, child-friendly atmosphere and lay the foundation for optimized organizational processes.
Abundant Natural Light
The addition is constructed as a reinforced concrete frame structure—similar to the pediatric outpatient clinic project on the ground floor.
The new wing is structurally designed to allow for the addition of one more story above the already completed ground floor. Continuous bands of windows provide natural light, and during the planning phase, great attention was paid to ensuring sufficient daylight, particularly in the treatment rooms and waiting areas. Visually, the new building is modeled after the redesigned pediatric outpatient clinic on the ground floor, which opened in 2021. The two newly constructed basement levels are accessible directly from the hospital’s main corridor—adjacent to the cafeteria—via an additional elevator.
Each floor features barrier-free access. The building services center, previously located on Basement Levels 1 and 2, was expanded to meet the needs of the new facilities. In the inner courtyard, approximately 350 m² of outdoor space adjacent to the extension was designed as a child- and youth-friendly park with appropriate play equipment for various age groups.
