In February 2022, AIA Life Designers was selected as the winner of the competition for the construction of the University Hospital Center (CHU) and Faculty of Medicine in Rabat. These two institutions will be located on the International University of Rabat (UIR) campus, on a 6-hectare site. The CHU will occupy 50,000 m², while the Health Sciences Faculty will cover 20,000 m². The new hospital will feature 425 beds, 10 operating rooms, 2 delivery rooms, and 2 endoscopy suites. Completion is scheduled for September 2025.
The Rabat CHU will be established at the heart of a larger complex including the Technopolis site, the International University campus, and the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University. The challenge is to design a healthcare facility that meets the strict demands of hospital architecture while integrating seamlessly into its environment, becoming a defining landmark within the district.
Human in scale, the hospital’s design emphasizes compactness — driven by both economic considerations and the desire to simplify circulation, minimizing travel distances within the facility. Separate access points and parking areas have been planned for different flows (public, staff, and emergency vehicles). The facades alternate between white and ochre tones, with a mix of cladding and local stone, creating harmony with the Technopolis and university campus surroundings.
The hospital is structured around a central pedestrian promenade flanked by parking areas and extended into an agora, around which four main blocks are organized: outpatient consultations, oncology, inpatient wards, and medical-technical services. The five-story consultation block rises above the other volumes. To accommodate future needs, flexible and convertible spaces, as well as areas reserved for potential expansion, have been integrated into the design.
The main entrance is located on the ground floor of the consultation building — a wide, light-filled lobby opening onto a central garden that guides visitors to their destination. Circulation is facilitated by a covered walkway linking the different sections, providing shelter from sun and rain alike.
The secondary lobbies of the medical-technical and oncology wings mirror the bright, welcoming atmosphere of the main hall. Natural light, essential to patient well-being, is present throughout. The bioclimatic design approach maximizes solar orientation, structural thermal inertia, and makes use of concrete and partial green roofs to ensure optimal indoor comfort. A photovoltaic system will generate 200 kWc of renewable energy.
Greenery is incorporated from the central promenade to rooftop terraces and interior courtyards, offering peaceful spaces for rest, interaction, or contemplation — reducing feelings of confinement by encouraging time spent outdoors.
Finally, the CHU reflects a modern, tech-forward approach to care. Fully connected, it enables improved patient monitoring through digital tools that guide the care journey from admission to discharge, helping patients feel reassured and involved throughout. The project is targeting HQE Cerway certification, with a minimum rating of “Very Good.”
With the new Rabat University Hospital, AIA Life Designers has proposed an architectural program designed for long-term sustainability through flexibility. High-performing and ergonomic, it delivers on the promise of a cutting-edge hospital, academic, and digital hub — focused on innovation and patient-centered care.
Client
Foncière UIR SA
Project Team
Architects : AIA Architectes + AWM Mountassir
Engineering : AIA Ingénierie
Local Engineering (Morocco) : LUSÉO
Surface Area
CHU : 50,000 m²
Faculty : 20,000 m²
Cost
CHU : €50 million (excl. tax)
Faculty : €15 million (excl. tax)
Timeline
Competition winner : February 2022
Expected delivery : September 2025