Rotterdam Eye Hospital from 1948
The Eye Hospital at Schiedamse Vest 180 in Rotterdam was designed by municipal architect Ad van der Steur (1893-1953). When completed in 1948, it was the largest eye hospital in the Netherlands. The building was expanded in 1955 and extensively renovated in 2005. Since 2021, Het Oogziekenhuis has been a municipal monument.
History after WWII
In the fall of 1940, preparations were made for a new hospital with 85 beds. The architect A. van der Steur drew a new hospital located on a site between the Baan and the Schiedamse Singel. On April 2, 1942, the first pile was driven by the contractor J.P. van Eesteren. In May 1943, construction was stopped by order of the German occupiers. All materials were confiscated.
Construction resumed after the liberation and finally the then mayor P.J. Oud opened the new eye hospital on December 15, 1948. The building was horseshoe-shaped, had five floors and 101 beds. This made it the largest eye hospital in the Netherlands. The various nursing wards had 57 beds for the third-class insured and 25 beds for the first-class and second-class insured. The pediatric ward had 15 beds and four cribs.
For hygienic reasons, the OR was located on a separate floor. Clinic and outpatient clinic were separate. All walls were tiled; a necessary hygienic measure. Because the eye patients moved along the walls, they had to be easy to clean. In terms of instrumentation, the hospital also met all modern requirements.
Expansion
The increasing patient flow necessitated expansion. This was possible on the north side of the hospital. Architect van der Steur had died, but his successor G. Drexhage maintained his architectural style. The foundation stone was laid Dec. 2, 1954. The wing had two floors less than the existing building. The construction was again commissioned from contractor J.P. van Eesteren. The first floor housed the polyclinic. In addition, the eye hospital gained: two operating rooms, a laboratory and eight wards with a total of 62 beds. The new complex was opened in late 1956.
Renovation
In 2005, the main building was rebuilt and renovated. The original Van der Steur details were preserved as much as possible and even brought back. The number of nursing wards was reduced from three to one. The freed up space with the construction of a floor made it possible to house the outpatient clinic in the main building. Covering the courtyard created a large patio in the center of the building, allowing light to enter on all floors.
Eye sufferers foundation
Amstelius carried out various work for the building owner Stichting Ooglijders of the Rotterdam Eye Hospital in collaboration with consultant Parc Makelaars.
We performed the quality management and executive management for the renovation of the pediatric outpatient clinic (approx. 1,000 m²) at the hospital.
In 2016-2017, we provided structural and installation engineering advice regarding the repair of overdue maintenance and replacement investments. Within this framework, we prepared a multi-year maintenance plan (MJOP) and a maintenance demarcation between tenant and landlord. For the purpose of leasing, we also prepared an energy label for the complex.
In 2018, we supervised the zero measurement on behalf of the building owner for the development and realization of the 150-meter-high residential complex the 'Cooltoren' on an adjacent property. In the process, we advised the building owner on environmental and safety measures. For the operation of the Eye Hospital various vibration and noise studies were carried out after which necessary and good working agreements (incl. red button situation) were made between parties.
