Deaconess Hospital Mannheim

Combining hygiene, function, ergonomics and visual appeal: a new operating unit shows the way

Located in the northern part of Baden-Württemberg – the federal state closest to France and Switzerland – Diako Mannheim is one of the major hospitals in this area of Germany. It was founded in 1861 as the ‘Evangelischer Verein für Krankenpflege durch Diakonissen’. Meanwhile, the deaconesses are long gone and the eventful history of the institution – which even includes a temporary relocation in repurposed barracks – has given way to a healthcare facility that caters to 18,000 inpatients and carries out over 12,000 surgical procedures per year.

As early as 2012, it had become clear that, as far as the operating theatres were concerned, there was ample room for improvement. The theatres were located wide apart on two different floors, while ancillary areas were in short supply and impractical. As a result, the hospital incurred additional expenses and a variety of inconveniences. To solve these issues once and for all, an ambitious project was initiated: the two operating theatres would be relocated next to each other and complemented by three additional, state-of-the-art theatres. The concept called for a brand new extension: the building permit was requested in October 2017, and the new operating unit was inaugurated in September 2021.