The Hague, 1 April 2026 — Deerns is working on two projects for University Medical Centre (UMC) Utrecht in the Netherlands: the large-scale modernisation of the North Wing; and the refurbishment of the outpatient clinics at the Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital (WKZ) in Utrecht.
With future-oriented installations, and for the North Wing also building physics and fire safety, Deerns is helping UMC Utrecht prepare the healthcare environment for sustainable growth and digital care. The focus is on solutions that perform reliably today and that can adapt in the longer term to new care concepts, digital technology and a hospital and campus environment that is steadily becoming more sustainable.
Senior consultant at Deerns, Hans Schaap, is involved in both projects and acts as project manager for the WKZ. He explains:
“We ensure that professionals don’t miss out. Where oxygen is needed, there is oxygen; where ICT is needed, there is ICT; and if a space must meet safety requirements, we know what is needed to achieve that. In a hospital, you must constantly balance the needs of patients and staff, and that is precisely why the technical aspects simply must be right.”
Deerns has been one of UMC Utrecht’s three in-house consultants for many years and was awarded both projects through separate tenders.
North Side of UMC Utrecht: integrated design for buildings undergoing transformation
The redevelopment of the North Side is a large-scale project on an area of approximately 70,000 m2 involving both new construction and major renovations. The work will bring together a variety of functions, such as outpatient clinics, wards, day treatment, dialysis and public facilities. Deerns is making an integrated contribution with the design of the building services, supplemented by building physics and fire safety, this reflects the complex connections between comfort, energy performance, safety and flexibility.
The ambition is clear: to establish a technical foundation focused on long-term usability and lasting value. Deerns designs systems that enable flexibility, so that UMC Utrecht can continue to adapt and scale up its care environment without significant technical obstacles. At the same time, the design choices align with the hospital’s sustainability strategy, with systems prepared for further electrification and connection to a new, sustainable infrastructure.
WKZ outpatient clinics: renovation with a focus on comfort, tranquillity and experience
For the Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital, Deerns is working on the renovation of the outpatient clinics on the first floor, covering an area of approximately 4,500 m². The project focuses on a new layout, sustainability improvements and an optimised user experience, in line with WKZ’s vision for the future of care.
Deerns is designing the systems that contribute to a comfortable and stable indoor climate, tailored to the dynamics of outpatient clinics and the specific context of a children’s hospital. Comfort, tranquillity and privacy play a key role in this, ensuring that children, parents and healthcare professionals feel as comfortable as possible in an intensive care environment. Deerns is focusing on building services and their integration into the renovation design, whilst Peutz is tasked with building physics and fire safety.
Integrated team delivers integrated results
Both projects are being carried out in close collaboration with EGM Architects and structural engineer Aronsohn. For the North Wing work, PTG Adviseurs is also involved as a facilities consultant. By working as an integrated team from the outset, spatial choices are directly linked to technical feasibility and performance. This results in a design that is right in terms of use, comfort, safety and future value. This integrated approach is essential as the hospital is to remain operational throughout the renovation and build.
New entrance and a different layout
Construction work at the North Wing will include the creation of a new main entrance. The entrance will shift from south to north and therefore a radical reorganisation of building functions is required. The entrances of several facilities, including the Princess Máxima Centre, will now converge in the same area, creating space for a new car park on the north side of the site.
Sustainable and digital: ready for the next step
UMC Utrecht has future ambitions to integrate new sustainable infrastructure and operate without natural gas. For Deerns, this means designing systems that function efficiently now whilst also preparing for connection to that future infrastructure.
Follow-up and impact
Construction on the WKZ outpatient clinics started in November 2025. Deerns is now starting work on the preliminary design phase of North Side with construction scheduled to continue until 2029.
These two projects contribute to an environment where care, sustainability and digital innovation converge. Deerns translates this ambition into technical designs that remain flexible, are focused on the long term and reliably support day-to-day care, even as the hospital and wider campus are constantly evolving.
