IIDC Architects Sets a Benchmark in Future Ready Healthcare Design

Fortis Hospital, Noida—first conceived in the early 2000s—has long stood as a defining project in North India’s private healthcare landscape. In 2025, the transformative expansion by IIDC Architects of the 415,000 sq. ft., 500-bed hospital has entered a new chapter, defined by superior standards in architecture and sustainability.

The new tower integrates seamlessly with the original structure through meticulously curated materials, rhythmic façade articulation, and biophilic landscaping, preserving the hospital’s architectural identity while introducing contemporary systems, sustainable detailing, and clinical advancements.

For IIDC Architects, the project carries deep significance.Ar. Manu Malhotra, Founder & Director, IIDC Architects, who had contributed to the original design over two decades ago, returned to lead this expansion. “To revisit a hospital I first helped shape in the 2000s, and to reimagine it for the future, is both a privilege and a responsibility. Our intent was to honour the legacy while creating spaces that set new benchmarks for healthcare design.” he says.

Design Intent and Inspiration

The expansion reflects IIDC’s holistic design ethos—where architecture becomes a medium for healing. Rooted in biophilic and neuroaesthetic principles, the building invites nature, light, and sensory balance into every space. Views of landscaped greens, calibrated daylight, and organic material palettes are employed to reduce stress and foster emotional well-being.

Sustainability remains integral, with energy-efficient systems, durable materials, and resilient infrastructure ensuring long-term performance. The design also prioritises human experience—creating environments that support both patient recovery and caregiver efficiency.

“Hospitals are not just clinical shells—they are places of deep human experience. Every corridor, every waiting lounge, every patient room must reduce anxiety and restore dignity. That is the architecture of healing,” says Ar. Malhotra

The Atrium: A Deliberate Pause

At the heart of the new block lies the double-height atrium—conceived as a deliberate pause between clinical movement and personal orientation. It functions as a transitory zone, offering both visual respite and acoustic balance within the hospital’s dynamic core.

A finely detailed canopy of wooden slats and circular apertures filters natural light while concealing integrated acoustic baffles and stretch fabric panels that manage reverberation, creating a balanced auditory environment.

The furniture palette, in muted blues, greens, and soft reds, is intentionally derived from neuroaesthetic research to reduce anxiety and aid spatial orientation. Polished stone flooring amplifies light, while rounded furniture forms and tactile finishes soften boundaries, enhancing user comfort and flow.

Anchored by a double-height Tree of Life backdrop, the reception area symbolises continuity and renewal. Wayfinding is intuitive—supported by visual cues, rhythmic lighting, and clear sightlines that promote effortless navigation.

Care Interfaces: Receptions, Nurse Stations & Waiting Areas

The public and caregiving zones are designed as spaces that work as hard as they heal. These environments reduce stress, streamline movement, and reinforce the hospital’s architectural coherence.

Nurse stations serve as central hubs with clear sightlines, enhancing supervision and operational efficiency.
Receptions are open and welcoming, promoting accessibility and flow.
Waiting areas are biophilic enclaves defined by organic forms, tactile surfaces, and soft hues of green and blue that ease anxiety.
Corridors connect these spaces through earthy flooring, diurnal lighting, and integrated signage, ensuring intuitive navigation and visual continuity.

In-patient Sanctuaries – IPD Rooms

Deluxe Rooms: Designed as restorative retreats, the deluxe rooms combine abundant natural light with warm timber and stone finishes. Vertical louvers and acrylic backdrops discreetly conceal utilities, maintaining visual harmony. An integrated attendant bed and study table reinforce both practicality and comfort.

Single Rooms: Smaller in scale but equally intentional, the single rooms frame landscaped views through large windows and use organic laminates and calming tones to evoke familiarity. Dedicated space for attendants, ergonomic furniture, and soft lighting create a tranquil, home-like environment.

Together, these in-patient spaces reflect IIDC’s focus on dignity, privacy, and human connection—extending care beyond clinical function.

Planned and executed within a live hospital environment, the expansion required strategic phasing, controlled site access, and meticulous coordination to ensure zero disruption to ongoing patient care. The result is a seamless architectural extension that amplifies operational capacity, enhances patient experience, and reaffirms Fortis Noida’s position as a benchmark for integrated, future-ready healthcare design.