Opening of the Oncology Care and PET-CT Facility in Kalmar

The new building for oncology care and PET-CT scans at Kalmar County Hospital will open in June. FOJAB designed the new construction, renovation, and expansion, which are intended to contribute to better and more integrated cancer care and more accessible radiation therapy.

The number of people living with cancer in Sweden is on the rise, and to meet their needs, Kalmar County has expanded its oncology services at the county hospital in Kalmar.

“With the new facilities, we will have a more integrated oncology care system with greater capacity, which will benefit both staff and patients in our region. It’s also great that residents of the region will soon be able to undergo PET-CT scans in Kalmar and won’t have to travel to another region to get them done, says Madelene Bjärfors, local project manager at Regionfastigheter.

Expanded care
The new six-story building will include two new radiation treatment rooms, a PET-CT suite, administrative offices, and a chemotherapy treatment unit. Staff will have better changing rooms, more office workstations, meeting rooms, and a staff lounge. A new, more visible, and attractive entrance improves accessibility, safety, and the visitor experience.

FOJAB has also designed the outdoor environment surrounding the building, with four new courtyards that provide patients, visitors, and staff with green views and new outdoor spaces. The design of two of the courtyards is based on an enchanted forest theme, featuring trees, moss, ferns, and rocks.

Unusually challenging
The entire project, including the renovation and expansion of an adjacent building, covers approximately 6,900 square meters. FOJAB has handled the system documentation, building permit, request for proposal, construction drawings, construction supervision, and project documentation.

“It has been an unusually challenging project,” says Henrik Laurino, the lead architect at FOJAB.

The location in the middle of the hospital grounds, on a narrow lot between existing buildings, has made the project extremely complex, with logistically challenging connections for the structural frame and utilities into three adjacent buildings.

“The project has required a great deal of coordination and collaboration across all areas,” says Tina Gardelin, construction project manager at Region Kalmar County.

Flexibility for the future
Advanced medical technology has required specialized solutions, particularly in radiation therapy. The radiation treatment rooms have walls and ceilings made of iron ore concrete that are more than 1.5 meters thick, as well as radiation shielding doors that each weigh over 15 tons. A separate department has been created for PET-CT operations, with specialized logistics and additional radiation protection requirements.

“We designed the buildings with flexibility in mind, particularly in terms of the structural framework and utilities. This means that operations can be adapted or new medical equipment can be introduced in the future without the need for extensive renovations,” says Henrik Laurino.

The artwork on the facade is titled ”Wave” and was created by Cecilia Aaro and Matilda Fahlsten.