Sweco’s experts carried out a comprehensive site and cost study for the Åland hospital project
November 9, 2026
Sweco’s multidisciplinary expert team consisting of experts in land use, hospital and architectural design conducted an extensive technical study for Åland Health and Medical Care (ÅHS). The aim of the study was to evaluate alternative solutions for Åland’s future hospital, and it included a comprehensive analysis of site options, costs and operational requirements to support decision-making.
The work brought together also previously collected data and reports so that the customer would have access to as diverse and comparable an overall picture as possible of the technical differences and costs of the different implementation options.
“The Åland Hospital project presents several unique challenges: there are about 400 helicopter flights a year in the island, and at the same time, it is a critical service whose continuity must be ensured during construction. This places exceptional demands on the hospital’s location, phasing, logistics and temporary space solutions,” says Kaisa Narvio, project specialist at Sweco.
The study examined three different alternatives: the renovation and expansion of the existing hospital site, and two greenfield site alternatives. The cost perspective was included in the comparison from the beginning, and separate cost calculations were prepared for the renovation option at a later stage.
Sweco supplemented the client’s previously commissioned massing and scope studies with analyses of land use, hospital operations and cost estimation. The comparison utilised a set of criteria in which the suitability of the sites was assessed from the perspectives of zoning, land ownership, municipal infrastructure, electricity transmission, traffic and logistics, noise areas, terrain elevation, soil conditions, constructability, and the natural and cultural environment, among other factors. The alternatives were evaluated using a traffic light assessment model. In addition, the project steering group conducted its own multi-criteria assessment using Sweco’s Inclus tool.
The functional review was carried out using preliminary volumetric and massing studies as well as alternative functional layout concepts. The experience of Sweco’s experts in working in the social and health care sector also made it possible to assess the alternatives from the perspective of patient, staff and service logistics, and the review took into account how the solutions support operational efficiency and the transition phase.
In the case of critical hospital infrastructure, the appropriate floor area and operational feasibility have a significant impact on total costs and project success, for which the island conditions of Åland bring their own special requirements. For example, several options for locating the helipad were assessed in the study, either on the roof of the building or at ground level. In addition, the work took into account the hospital’s maintenance, patient and staff transport needs, as well as the feasibility of the transition phase.
Drawing on previous studies and other source material, as well as the options prepared by Sweco, the potential for long-term development of the existing hospital site was examined. The site was found to be suitable for phased development. The work also considered the arrangement of temporary facilities, renovation sequencing and how operations can be maintained during construction without interrupting hospital services. The study proved particularly valuable because a similarly extensive review had not been carried out in Åland for a long time.
The experience of Sweco’s experts in the design of both new hospitals and renovation projects brought added value to the project. The work drew on experience from extensive hospital projects and social welfare and health care facilities while also supporting the customer from the perspectives of project management and transition planning. As a result of the study, the customer received a comprehensive comparison of different alternatives supported by technical, operational and financial analyses, providing a robust basis for decision-making.