Dr. Carlos Saenz Herrera National Children’s Hospital is a paediatric hospital located in San José, capital of Costa Rica. As one of Costa Rica’s principal state hospitals, it caters for all areas of paediatrics, dealing primarily with particularly complex cases that cannot be treated at the country’s other health facilities.
Founded in 1964, the hospital facilities include the Torre de la Esperanza (Tower of Hope), also known as the Critical Care Tower. Now, the much-needed facility upgrades and extension, which began to take shape as a project more than a decade ago, are about to become a reality. The project will be managed under a Trust, a legal entity constituted by the APHNN (Association Pro Children’s Hospital), the CCSS (Costa Rican Social Security Fund) and the BNCR (National Bank of Costa Rica).
The project features an 11-storey tower located on an 8,770 sq m plot, with a gross floor area of 39,430 sq m, 10,000 of which are on three basement levels. Investment is estimated at 113 million dollars.
As project manager, TYPSA is leading the project and the UTE TORRESPERANZA joint venture, the end client being the Trust. Tasks include providing project and construction management services comprising scheduling, preliminary studies and medical equipment planning. TYPSA will also manage the ‘turnkey’ procurement process that involves detailed design, construction, equipping, and 30-year operation and maintenance. The scope does not include services such as land acquisition management and demolitions on the building plot.
The Tower will house intensive care units (ICU), a surgical block, burns unit, medical emergencies, Neonatal ICU, pharmacy, trauma unit, cardiac ICU, medical imaging, a helipad, and other administrative and logistical support services. New projects for research and training in the various specialist medical areas are also expected to be developed and implemented.
