The concert hall is located on the waterfront of the Stavanger town harbour. The building consists of two volumes, one is transparent in glass and the other is enclosed in concrete. These two blocks give identity to the complementary halls. It opens in 2012. © Kim Müller

Medplan is an architectural practice with a primary focus on large-scale hospitals and buildings. The company was founded in 1991, after winning first prize in the design competition for the new Rikshospital (State University Hospital) in Oslo. Later through several large-scale hospital projects, including Friedrich Schiller University Hospital in Jena, Germany, St. Olavs hospital in Trondheim and the hospital Nordlandssykehuset in Bodø, Medplan has achieved a leading role in hospital design and planning in Norway. The company employs approximately 40 architects.

Philosophy
A knowledge-based innovative and creative process brings humanity forward. Medplan seeks to base all its work on this basic principle. Medplan’s aims are to fulfil its clients’ high expectations and project objectives, making a positive impact in all fields of work through the portfolios with which they are entrusted. Through this strategy the company aims to create a working environment where employees enjoy contributing at all stages of the innovative, creative process.

Nordlandssykehuset, the laboratory centre, completed in 2007.

Working Method
Medplan seeks to bring new knowledge to all its employees through participation in external and internal seminars, workshops and study tours to contemporary projects of interest all over the world. This forms the bases for new and innovative thinking where an emphasis is put not only on existing knowledge in one category of building design, but equally to the possibility of positive cross-over knowledge, bringing design knowledge from one building category into another.

Experience
Since its founding, Medplan has built up its human and structural assets and become well known internationally. In health care the company’s reputation of knowledge, experience, and high architectural design standards has led to several commissions for design of hospitals abroad.

Medplan has recently been engaged by the Ayursundra Health Group in India to design a new acute hospital in Guwahati and has been working with Schmitt & Diamond Architects in Canada on the New Women’s College Hospital in Toronto. In 2008, the company worked as consultants on hospital architecture on a private hospital in Orange, Australia. Previously Medplan has been involved in the production of hospitals in Denmark, Germany and Bosnia.

Values & Leadership
Medplan’s leadership philosophy is based on a constant development of its own human resources in an evolutionary process adapted to the ongoing acquisition of new knowledge and cultural change.

A majority of the company’s contracts are long-term, involving large building structures of high functional complexity. The company philosophy is that there is no contradiction between architecture focusing on human needs for a stimulating environment based on variety in architectural space and design.

Sustainability in Design
Medplan’s ambition is to be among the leaders designing projects of high environmental and sustainable consciousness. This means enhancing efficiency and moderation in the use of materials, energy and space in the company’s projects.

Friedrich Schiller University Hospital in Jena, Germany. Medplan, in cooperation with Dr. Worschech & Partner, won the international architectural competition. First building stages were completed in 2001.	Rikshospitalet is the regional hospital for seven counties and the university-teaching hospital for the University of Oslo. National needs are also covered by the hospital. It was completed in 1999. © Jiri Havran