Construction advances at Stavros Niarchos Foundation’s three new hospitals
More than €500 million is being invested in hospitals in Thessaloniki, Komotini and Sparta, with completion and handover now scheduled for the end of 2027.
Construction of three new hospitals funded by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) is progressing, with work increasingly focused on electromechanical systems, medical equipment, IT infrastructure, rooftop solar installations and landscaping. The foundation said the updated schedule envisages the completion and handover of all three facilities by the end of 2027.
The hospitals are being built in Thessaloniki, Komotini (Gümülcine) and Sparta as part of the foundation’s International Health Initiative. According to the SNF, significant milestones have been reached across all three construction sites, and the revised timetable has been formally communicated to the Greek authorities.
The projects are expected to cost more than €500 million combined, representing a substantial part of the foundation’s €1 billion donation programme in Greece and internationally. Once completed, the hospitals are intended to improve access to high-quality healthcare in their respective regions and support new standards of care within Greece’s National Health System.
INNOVATIVE DESIGN AND SUSTAINABILITY
Construction is being carried out by the AVAX Group, with project management handled by Hill International in cooperation with the design team and specialist consultants.
Developed through the foundation’s collaboration with internationally renowned architect Renzo Piano, the hospitals are designed to integrate with their natural surroundings while meeting high environmental standards. Their construction incorporates innovative architectural and engineering solutions, including extensive use of structural timber and complex façade systems.
The foundation said timber structural systems have now been installed at all three sites. Special metal connectors used in the structures are manufactured in Greece and adapted to the technical requirements of each project.
Fire safety has also been a key consideration. According to the foundation, the performance of the façade systems has received top-level certification from a specialist organisation in Germany.
PROGRESS AT THE THREE SITES
At the new general hospital in Komotini, construction of the timber exterior façade has been completed. The same work has advanced significantly at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation University Paediatric Hospital in Thessaloniki, while installation of the timber façade has begun at the hospital in Sparta.
The timber façades are being installed on the upper floors, where patient treatment and care units will be located. The design is intended to contribute to both the buildings’ architectural identity and their sustainability.
At the Komotini hospital, exterior finishing on the lower floors housing clinical services has also been completed. These sections use prefabricated glass fibre-reinforced concrete (GFRC) elements, selected for their durability and architectural flexibility. Similar work is continuing in Thessaloniki and Sparta.
Installation of glazed façades at the entrance levels and glass openings within the upper-floor timber façades has also made substantial progress. These features are intended to maximise natural light and create bright, open interior spaces.
MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY AND INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS
The hospitals’ construction and architectural standards will be complemented by advanced medical equipment and information technology systems. The foundation is also developing partnerships to help prepare the facilities for future operation.
Additional donations under the International Health Initiative are supporting cooperation with leading US healthcare institutions, including NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, Columbia University Irving Medical Center and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Recruiting and providing sufficient staff remains another key requirement for the hospitals’ successful operation. The foundation said this responsibility is expected to be fulfilled through the Greek state’s work and commitments.
At the paediatric hospital in Thessaloniki, further partnerships are also being considered to create a more welcoming environment for children, families and staff. One proposal involves displaying works by internationally recognised artists, including Greek artists, in selected areas of the facility.
PUBLIC INFORMATION AND SITE VISITS
The foundation said nine rounds of public information meetings have been held with residents of Thessaloniki, Komotini and Sparta. These meetings have involved the Greek Ministry of Health, AVAX Group, Hill International and the design team.
More recently, construction sites at all three hospitals were opened to public visits, giving local residents and other interested parties the opportunity to see the work firsthand and learn about the projects’ progress.
The foundation said it remains committed to completing all three hospitals in line with the established technical and quality standards and to providing regular, transparent updates on construction.
