The outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19) that began in December 2019 and was declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organization in March has affected, to date, more than 212 countries and territories worldwide, with the number of infections exceeding 4 million. The severity of the health crisis lies in the high transmission rate of the disease, which means that, without adequate containment, a large number of people require medical attention at the same time, depleting healthcare resources in the hardest-hit areas.
The first confirmed case of the coronavirus pandemic in Argentina was reported on March 3, 2020. Since then, by studying the methodologies adopted by countries where the disease had spread earlier (such as in Europe), governments began taking proactive measures, not only to maximize containment but also to prepare for hypothetical future scenarios where the number of cases exceeds healthcare system capacities.
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The country's strategy focuses on proactively reinforcing its healthcare infrastructure by building a national network of twelve Emergency Modular Hospitals. Building these units, along with the phased reopening of two other inactive centers, will add 1,200 hospitalization and intensive care beds to increase the pandemic response capacity. The design of these Emergency Modular Hospitals is based on a scalable 1,000 m2 modular system (meaning they can be easily expanded if necessary, adapting flexibly to changes in spatial demand) using dry construction methods. This allows them to be built simultaneously in rotating shifts, accelerating construction times.
The twelve new hospitals will be located in Córdoba, Mar del Plata, Resistencia (Chaco), Granadero Baigorria (Santa Fe), and several municipalities in Buenos Aires province (Florencio Varela, Hurlingham, Quilmes, Tres de Febrero, Almirante Brown, Lomas de Zamora, Moreno, and General Rodríguez). The models will adapt to the specific needs of each province, with the ability to be expanded and integrated if necessary. All facilities are prefabricated and transported to their final sites for assembly and connection. First, the central core is established, followed by the assembly of the ward pavilions. Finally, all electrical, data, and medical gas networks are installed. While these modular hospitals are designed to address the current crisis, they are expected to serve a purpose in the future, adapting to post-pandemic needs.
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The 20-day construction schedule was a key factor in determining the building systems and operational methodologies. Looking at the example of China, the country built more than 30 temporary hospitals nationwide in the first two months of 2020. Completing these medical facilities was made possible by tens of thousands of people working in 24-hour shifts, demonstrating that speed of execution in the construction sector is critical to addressing healthcare system shortages in times of crisis.
We invite you to check out ArchDaily's coverage of COVID-19, read our tips and articles on productivity while working from home, and discover technical recommendations for healthy design in your future projects. Also, remember to check the latest advice and information on COVID-19 on the World Health Organization (WHO) website.
This article was written by Belén Maiztegui. The translation is powered by AI.
