Project management

Basic Project Information

Project Role: Project Manager

Client: Ministry of Health of the Republic of Croatia

Project is co-financed by the European Union

Project Context and Background

The complex of the unfinished University Hospital Zagreb is located in the southwestern part of the City of Zagreb (city district Novi Zagreb – Zapad), along the right bank of the river Sava. The location is strategically situated next to the access road for the Zagreb – Karlovac highway and close to the Zagreb bypass.

In the period from 2020 to 2021, a Feasibility Study was prepared with the aim of examining the possibilities of using the existing building in Blato. The intention was to create an adequate space to consolidate and relocate part of the pediatric, obstetric, and gynecological capacities of the city of Zagreb, which includes:

• Children's Hospital Zagreb (Klaićeva)

• Pediatric Clinic and the Clinic for Women's Diseases and Obstetrics of the Sestre Milosrdnice Clinical Hospital Centre

• Clinic for Women's Diseases of the Merkur Clinical Hospital

• Special Hospital for the Protection of Children with Neurodevelopmental and Motor Disorders (Goljak)

• Psychiatric Hospital for Children and Adolescents (Kukuljevićeva)

Feasibility Study Conclusions and New Vision

The study resulted in concrete findings regarding the method and model of realizing this capital project. Due to the inadequate existing load-bearing grid, the inflexibility of the structure with load-bearing walls, the non-compact form, long (inefficient) communication routes, and the unsatisfactory statics of the old building, the Study proposes the construction of a completely new building at the Blato location. Only minor parts of the existing building, which are adequate for accommodating logistical functional units, will be renovated and reconstructed. The specific typology of children's and maternity hospitals requires a modern approach that the old building could not provide.

National Children's Hospital in Zagreb

The new hospital building combines top-tier functionality with a pleasant environment. The main entrance of the first phase will be oriented towards the northwest, ensuring easy accessibility. The modern hospital concept is rounded off by a smart traffic solution with a spacious parking lot and a heliport, as well as a beautiful park landscape. Sunlit green areas and play gardens will create a relaxing atmosphere tailored to patients and visitors. The contractor is obliged to design the facility taking into account all criteria that enable the issuance of a silver certificate according to the internationally recognized DGNB certification system. DGNB (German: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Nachhaltiges Bauen) is a system for assessing the sustainability of the built environment and a tool for planning, design, construction, and sustainable use of the built environment developed by the German Sustainable Building Council. The DGNB system is adapted to the European regulatory framework and is the only system that gives equal weight to all three principles of sustainability in its assessment – environmental, economic, and social. The DGNB standard is aligned with the requirements of the EU Taxonomy, which describes the framework for the classification of "green" or "sustainable" economic activities carried out in the EU.

Phase 1 of the project includes the relocation of the entire scope of activities of the Children's Hospital Zagreb (general pediatrics, pediatric surgery, and pediatric oncology) to the premises of the new National Children's Hospital, which will cover 53,040 m². The start of operations of the National Children's Hospital – Phase 1 is expected by the end of 2029.

Phase 1 encompasses:

– New construction: National Children's Hospital (to be located east of the existing unfinished University Hospital)

– Reconstruction of the existing technical block buildings (which are part of the existing University Hospital complex)

Project management services are provided by a consortium of companies PPP Centar d.o.o. and Investinženjering d.o.o. from Zagreb.

Project Manager is Prof. Saša Marenjak, Ph.D., from PPP Centar d.o.o.

Implementation Phases and Contract Scope

The realization of the new National Children's Hospital is planned in two phases. Phase 1 refers to the implementation of the part of the buildings intended for pediatric care services and pediatric surgery (including the priority relocation of the Children's Hospital Zagreb to the new location).

According to the scope of services, the project is planned to be realized through the following key contracts:

• Contract for the design and construction of the National Children's Hospital Phase 1 (Design & Build model, FIDIC Yellow Book, which implies the unified responsibility of the Contractor for the design and execution of works)

• Contract for the procurement of medical and non-medical equipment

• Contract for the procurement of furniture and equipment

• Contract for professional supervision services for the implementation of the design and construction project of the National Children's Hospital Phase 1

• Contract for the supply and provision of geothermal water for the needs of the National Children's Hospital Phase 1

• Contract for sustainability certification according to DGNB International

Our Role: Project Management Services

As the managers of this strategic project, we ensure expert leadership, coordination, and supervision over all aspects of implementation.

Our project management services include:

• Consulting and contract management: Support in public procurement procedures and overall management of concluded contracts.

• Contractor monitoring: Control of services and works of the Design & Build contractor.

• Professional supervision monitoring: Coordination and supervision of the work of the professional supervision team.

• Infrastructure and energy: Monitoring the contract for the construction of the geothermal pipeline.

• DGNB sustainability certification: Monitoring the certification process, obtaining the DGNB pre-certificate, and securing the final sustainability certificate according to DGNB International 2026.

• Water supply and drainage: Monitoring the execution of activities related to water supply and drainage, obtaining necessary permits, and constructing the public water supply pipeline for the needs of Phase 1 and Phase 2.

• Institutional cooperation: Continuous cooperation and coordination with experts from JASPERS and the Central Finance and Contracting Agency (SAFU).