With a surface area of 220,000 sq. m. and a budget of €1.25 billion, the new Nantes University Hospital Center is one of the largest hospital investments in France and Europe. Every day, more than a thousand people work on this site located on the island of Nantes, between two arms of the Loire river. The building is scheduled for delivery by the end of 2026, with a transfer of activities from the former Hôtel-Dieu to the new site in the second half of 2027.
The innovative architecture of the new hospital, composed of several pavilions connected by 20 footbridges, creates a new healthcare district in the heart of the city. This configuration allows for greater flexibility and adaptability, facilitating the re‑assignment of pavilions to different functions as required.
In addition to its modern architecture, the Nantes University Hospital Center has adopted fully automated logistics, inspired by industrial models. This centralized system, managed by logistics, pharmaceutical and catering consultants, frees caregivers from logistical tasks so that they can focus on patient care.
A new outpatient platform and innovations inspired by the Covid crisis
“The new outpatient platform will make it possible to avoid sending the patient all over the hospital, the correct expertise will instead come to them,” explains Laurence Jay-Passot, Deputy CEO of the Nantes University Hospital Center. The new hospital also provides the opportunity to review each patient’s pathway, particularly with regard to outpatient daytime care, which will increase from 59% to 64% of stays. Among other innovations, Ms. Jay-Passot also mentions modular rooms that can be upgraded to intensive care in exceptional situations, a design inspired by the Covid crisis, while also mentioning a reception system for parents in neonatology that is based on a Swedish model.
A new health district
Taking a broader view, the new hospital city is itself part of a new health district, comprising in the same place the second Nantes Institute for Health Research for clinical studies, a brand new 38,000 sq. m. medical and paramedical training center for 7,000 students – being delivered in 2030 – while the business incubator, Gina, is being completed on an adjacent plot of land. With a capacity of 1,000 people, it will host startups this summer specializing in digital healthcare, R&D laboratories of SMEs and mid-size companies, as well as innovation support structures, including that of the Nantes University Hospital Center and its “third place” for experimentation.
Impact on the community
The new Nantes University Hospital Center is not only transforming health care but is also having a significant impact on the local community. By creating a new healthcare district, the project is stimulating the local economy, generating jobs and attracting innovative businesses. Modern infrastructure and new training facilities provide educational opportunities for medical and paramedical students, strengthening the region’s capacity to train highly qualified healthcare professionals.
In addition, the hospital’s integration into the urban fabric promotes better accessibility to care for residents of Nantes and the surrounding area. The pavilion design and logistical innovations reduce waiting times and improve the efficiency of care, which directly benefits patients.
In short, the new Nantes University Hospital Center represents a major step forward, not only for the healthcare sector, but also for the local community, by providing quality care, stimulating the economy and strengthening the links between the hospital and the city.