Another Technological Innovation! The Steel Structure Reticulated Shell of HeYou International Hospital Project Successfully Lifted

On March 18, the HeYou International Hospital project reached a significant construction milestone—after eight consecutive hours of intensive work, the curved steel reticulated shell of the hospital's main building was successfully lifted, marking an exciting achievement! The main facade of the hospital building adopts a spatial reticulated shell structure, and its unique appearance will become a distinctive landmark in the medical and health field, with the prototype of the Greater Bay Area's health living room beginning to take shape.

The successful lifting of the hospital's main building reticulated shell structure also reflects the pioneering and innovative spirit of HeYou International Hospital (in preparation) (hereinafter referred to as “HeYou”). It is reported that this is the first application case of a hospital main building reticulated shell structure in China, with its technological innovation reaching a leading domestic level.

At 16:30 on March 18, with eight hydraulic jacks on eight lifting frames simultaneously exerting force, the curved reticulated shell roof of the HeYou main building, weighing approximately 400 tons and with a total height of 23.37 meters, slowly ascended and was successfully lifted into place after eight hours of intense and orderly construction.

HeYou is the first private hospital in China to apply a reticulated shell structure to its main building. The form of this reticulated shell structure is a large-span spatial irregular curved single-layer reticulated shell. The shell is composed of interwoven bent and twisted steel components and cast steel parts, with a length and width of 175.9 meters and 91.6 meters respectively, covering an area of approximately 8,337 square meters. The facade of the shell features a “7” shape, sliding directly from the top of the shell to the ground, and its special form makes installation and positioning extremely complex.

The HeYou International Hospital project team and all personnel from the Steel Structure Division of China Construction Third Engineering Bureau Co., Ltd., the contractor, worked day and night for three months. Utilizing the most advanced “Ultra-Large Hydraulic Synchronous Lifting Technology” in China, they overcame numerous difficulties and challenges, successfully lifting the reticulated shell to the designated height.

Throughout the construction process, BIM technology was employed, using a “Rhino+Tekla” model to conduct comprehensive construction simulations of the reticulated shell. During the component fabrication, a “precision CNC cutting” method was adopted for the bent and twisted components, enhancing their manufacturing accuracy. During the component positioning phase, a “3D scanning precision positioning” model was used as an auxiliary method, controlling the installation error of components to the millimeter level, with technological innovation reaching a leading domestic level.

HeYou originates from the philanthropic aspiration of Mr. He Xiangjian, founder of Midea, to “benefit the hometown and give back to society.” Founded and funded by Midea Holdings, it is located in the core of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area—the Sanlong Bay High-End Innovation Cluster in Foshan—and is a key project of Guangdong Province.

The hospital is designed according to the standards of a domestic Grade 3A general hospital and international quality certification systems. It plans to occupy 386 mu of land, with a total construction area of 580,000 square meters, and is planned to have 1,500 beds. HeYou is a non-profit hospital, and all future operating surpluses will be used for the hospital's own development, medical research, and social welfare.

Designed by the top-tier design team BAI Design International (UK), HeYou adopts the concept of a garden hospital to create a new benchmark for green, eco-friendly, and smart healthcare. Through the reticulated shell structure and landscape nodes such as enclosed courtyards, sky gardens, and artistic corridors, the hospital introduces sunlight, air, and greenery into its internal spaces. The building environment, coexisting with nature, transforms HeYou Hospital into a large urban garden, effectively reducing stress for patients and medical staff.

HeYou has also won multiple world-class awards, including the German ICONIC Award, the WAF World Architecture Festival Award, the WAN World Architecture News Award, the American MUSE Design Award, the American Masterprize Architect of the Year Award, the American IDA International Design Award, the American BLT Built Design Award, the Italian A' Design Award, and the CHCC China Hospital Construction Award (Top Ten Interior Design).

Since the groundbreaking on November 13, 2020, the construction of the HeYou International Hospital project has progressed smoothly, with the hospital's main building topping out on November 13, 2022. The successful completion of this reticulated shell lifting has created conditions for subsequent construction work such as roofing, electromechanical installation, and interior decoration.

HeYou is scheduled to commence operations on June 28, 2024. It will strategically focus on six major disciplines: Oncology, Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Brain Science and Neurology, Cardiovascular Medicine, Women's and Children's Health, and Health Management and Geriatric Medicine. It aims to introduce and integrate clinical medical research systems, service systems, and talent training systems that are aligned with world-class standards, striving to become a non-profit, comprehensive, and international hospital that meets international standards, achieves a leading domestic level, features Guangdong characteristics, serves the Greater Bay Area, and radiates its influence across the country and overseas.