Construction of the three new hospitals in Thessaloniki, Komotini and Sparta is progressing steadily. The projects are being carried out as part of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation’s (SNF) International Health Initiative (IHI).
Construction is under way at all three sites in parallel, with significant progress made in key phases of the build. The focus is gradually shifting to mechanical and electrical installations, the integration of medical equipment and information systems, the installation of solar-panel roofs and the landscaping of the surrounding areas.
Taking into account progress to date, the pace of work under current conditions, and the sequencing and interdependence of the next construction phases, the revised timeline for completing and handing over the three projects is now set for the end of 2027, according to the announcement.
In keeping with the transparent and open communication and cooperation that underpin the partnership between the SNF and the Greek state, the revised timetable has been formally communicated to the Greek authorities. Regular institutional meetings are also continuing to keep both sides informed and monitor overall progress on the projects.
With a combined estimated cost of more than €500 million, the three hospitals are a central pillar of the IHI and form part of the SNF’s broader €1 billion donation to deliver the initiative in Greece and internationally.
Once complete, the hospitals will be handed over by the Foundation for the benefit of Greek society. They are intended to make a meaningful contribution to expanding access to high-quality healthcare in their respective regions and to set new standards for care within Greece’s National Health System (ESY). The commitment to meeting particularly high technical specifications and delivering the projects to a high standard reflects the continued commitment of all the organisations involved.
This is a complex and pioneering construction process, being carried out by AVAX Group under the oversight of Hill International as Project Manager, in cooperation with the Design Team and specialist consultants. Based on a shared, fundamentally human-centred vision of the Foundation and internationally renowned architect Renzo Piano, the new SNF hospitals are being developed in close harmony with their natural surroundings. They incorporate the highest environmental standards, as well as innovative architectural and construction solutions being used for the first time in Greece on this scale and representing a pioneering approach in Europe.
These include the extensive use of structural timber and complex building façade systems. Particular emphasis has also been placed on the fire safety of these systems, whose performance has been certified at the highest level by a specialist organisation in Germany.
Installation of the timber load-bearing structure has now been completed at all three sites. The connections include specially designed metal components, manufactured locally in Greece and adapted to the specific technical requirements of each project.
The timber façade of the Komotini building has also been completed, while notable progress has been made at the SNF University Pediatric Hospital of Thessaloniki, and the corresponding work has already begun in Sparta. The timber façade extends across the upper floors of the hospitals, where inpatient units and departments will be located, contributing both to the buildings’ architectural identity and to their sustainability.
At the site of the new SNF General Hospital of Komotini, the façades of the lower floors, which will house the hospital’s clinical services, have also been completed using prefabricated GFRC (Glass Fibre Reinforced Concrete) elements. The glass-fibre-reinforced concrete combines high strength with considerable architectural flexibility.
Corresponding work is under way at the Thessaloniki and Sparta sites. Significant progress has also been made in installing the glass façade at entrance level and fitting glazed openings in the timber façades of the upper inpatient and clinical floors.
These features are an integral part of the hospitals’ architectural vision, which places particular emphasis on making the most of abundant natural light and creating bright, open spaces throughout each building.
The high standard of architectural design and construction of the new SNF hospitals is complemented by medical equipment and information systems that meet the highest standards, as well as international partnerships aimed at strengthening preparations for their future operation.
Through supplementary SNF grants under the IHI, these efforts include partnerships with leading organisations such as NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and Columbia University Irving Medical Center, as well as the US-based Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Staffing the three hospitals through the measures and commitments undertaken by the Greek state remains central to the broader effort to develop and prepare them for future operation.
Finally, with the aim of creating a welcoming and familiar environment for children, their families and staff, the possibility of partnerships to bring artworks by internationally acclaimed artists, including Greek artists, into selected areas of the SNF University Pediatric Hospital of Thessaloniki is being explored.
The SNF remains committed to completing the three projects in line with the specified technical and quality requirements and to keeping the public regularly and transparently informed about their progress. To date, the SNF, together with the Ministry of Health, the project contractor AVAX Group, the Project Manager Hill International and the Design Team, has held nine rounds of open meetings with local communities in Thessaloniki, Komotini and Sparta.
Public visits to all three sites have also recently been completed, giving local communities and the wider public the opportunity to see the progress of the work first-hand and learn about the construction process.