Psychiatric centre for Aarhus University Hospital in Skejby

Nordstern built Denmark's largest PPP project to date, which includes a new psychiatric hospital as part of Aarhus University Hospital in Skejby. The hospital consists of 10,000 sq m of forensic psychiatric and 40,000 sq m of child and adult psychiatric wards with outpatient clinics and wards connected to the rest of the hospital by a tunnel.

The design focused on the patients' care pathway, forensic psychiatric conditions and employees by incorporating security, safety and optimisation of the indoor climate. A number of security and safety measures were implemented to create a building with both static and dynamic security, without associating the building with a prison and patient detention.

In terms of security, the focus during construction was not only on securing the building against unauthorised access from the outside, but also on the patients' ability to get in and out, and to prevent the possibility of smuggling drugs, weapons or the like. This led to a number of complex fire issues that had to be taken into account during the design process.

The security measures also aim to increase the safety of patients, employees and visitors by preventing the risk of self-harm or violence, threats and assaults against others.

To create a good indoor climate for patients and staff, the living areas were soundproofed to reduce noise and create a pleasant acoustic environment. The building also features dynamic lighting, where one or more colours can be removed to give patients a better circadian rhythm. The building is designed to allow in large amounts of daylight and frequent air changes to optimise both the indoor climate and energy consumption in the building.

To accommodate the needs of children and young people for a sense of security, there is a school with classrooms, observation rooms with space for play and outdoor areas with both enclosed and open playgrounds. There are also smaller wards with private bathrooms and toilets, equipped for children and young people.

The new psychiatric hospital replaced the old psychiatric hospital in Risskov, which in collaboration with Nordstern is being developed into a new neighbourhood – Bindesbøll Byen.