On the occasion of the 17th edition of the Level II Master’s Degree in ‘Planning, Programming and Design of Hospital and Social-Healthcare Systems’, Sergio Beccarelli gave a lecture on the theme of the “Piano Direttore” (a specific Master Plan) for the transformation of hospital systems, presenting case studies and methodological reflections gained from his professional experience at Policreo.

The joint Master’s Degree, promoted by the Politecnico di Milano, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore and Università degli Studi di Milano, trains Hospital Planners, cross-disciplinary professionals capable of integrating architectural, engineering and healthcare skills in the design and management of complex hospital facilities.

As part of the training programme, the lecture explored two significant case studies, one concerning the experience of an existing healthcare facility and the other concerning a new Master Plan for a hospital.

The “Piano Direttore” is a strategic tool that guides the transformation of a complex healthcare facility over time through:

• the definition of an integrated framework of requirements;
• the analysis of the relevant territorial, environmental and programmatic systems;
• the identification of the most efficient configuration among alternative scenarios;
• the definition of the design strategies and technical-administrative procedures necessary for their implementation;
• monitoring costs, timescales and objectives over time;
• disseminating and sharing choices with operators, users and stakeholders.

In this sense, the “Piano Direttore” is not just a technical document, but an integrated process that connects healthcare planning, architectural quality, economic sustainability and urban and environmental compatibility.

A methodological approach that confirms the importance of systemic design, capable of guiding the development of healthcare facilities in the long term.