A resilient and adaptable healthcare HQ. Designed to transform into future clinical uses while minimizing environmental impact.
The new Medical Emergency System (SEM) Headquarters in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat represents a bold step forward in healthcare infrastructure for Catalonia. Delivered for Ferrovial-Climava in just eleven months, the 23,000m² facility combines speed, sustainability, and flexibility through an innovative prefabricated and modular construction approach. Seamlessly integrated into a campus shared with a leading cancer hospital, the headquarters not only enhances emergency response operations but also sets a new standard for energy-efficient, resilient, and people-centric healthcare design.
Building SEM’s new home
SEM, Catalonia’s public medical emergency service, coordinates urgent healthcare responses across the region. To strengthen integration with nearby hospitals and support its growing role, the Catalan Health Service (CatSalut) launched a design competition, which AECOM won in partnership with local architects b720. Together, we co-designed the architecture and provided structural, MEP, and sustainability services for the new headquarters in Hospitalet de Llobregat. Located within a major healthcare campus, the project consolidates SEM’s operations into a single purpose-built facility, spanning 23,000m² across one basement and five above-ground levels. The facility includes a 24-hour ambulance base, logistics center, simulation and training areas, emergency coordination suites, and administrative workspaces, all organized around efficient circulation routes and a central bioclimatic courtyard. Parking facilities, external terraces, and clearly defined pedestrian and vehicle access points further support both daily operations and staff wellbeing.
Image credits: José Hevia
The design brief prioritized speed, resilience, and sustainability, requiring the facility to be delivered in just eleven months. We met this ambitious timeline using a prefabricated and modular construction system that reduced both time and cost while maintaining quality and adaptability. A flexible structural system with column-free floor plans allows spaces to be reconfigured as healthcare needs evolve within the hospital campus, ensuring long-term resilience. Construction was organized into four overlapping phases, from foundations and structural frames to façade installation, interior fit-out, and urban realm works; enabling rapid delivery without compromising technical excellence.
A low-carbon, daylight-driven approach
Sustainability was a defining priority for the SEM headquarters, shaping both design strategies and long-term performance goals. Passive measures, such as optimized daylighting and solar control, reduce reliance on artificial lighting and mitigate overheating, while active systems like integrated photovoltaic panels support on-site renewable generation. Our innovative approach enabled the building to achieve a strong daylighting performance, with 86% of occupied areas maintaining over 300 lux for at least half of daylight hours, and glare limited to just 5.6% of spaces exceeding 1000 lux for more than 250 hours annually. The bioclimatic courtyard, currently under performance monitoring, enhances natural ventilation and creates a healthier interior environment, reinforcing the building’s role as both a workplace and a resilient healthcare asset.
Image credits: José Hevia
Designing for long-term resilience
The SEM headquarters demonstrates how rapid delivery, resilience, and sustainability can be achieved together through smart design and execution. By integrating prefabricated systems, bioclimatic strategies, and adaptable layouts, we’ve delivered a facility that not only meets today’s operational demands but is also prepared for future healthcare challenges.
The building reflects our ability to translate ambitious goals revolving around tight timelines, cost efficiency, low-carbon performance into practical, buildable solutions. By combining modular construction with bioclimatic strategies, the new headquarters balances urgent operational needs with a vision for adaptable, low-carbon healthcare infrastructure. Its flexible design also allows the entire building to be reconfigured into any healthcare use (wards, theatres, labs, etc.) within the healthcare campus it is part of. This adaptability, paired with strong environmental performance, shows how thoughtful planning can deliver buildings that meet today’s needs while preparing for the uncertainties of tomorrow.
Image credits: José Hevia