The role of Architects in reducing infection risk
Tracks
Meeting Room 1.40
| Monday, June 30, 2025 |
| 11:01 AM - 11:30 AM |
Overview
Speaker: Mr Duncan Rendall
Speaker
Mr Duncan Rendall
Western Cape Government: Health & Wellness
The Role of Architects in reducing infection risk
Abstract
The success of an architectural design is largely dependent on the ‘client’ providing clear accommodation and functionality requirements. The architects’ job is to then design a building which not only fulfils these basic requirements but also fits onto the site, complies with local and national building regulations and a plethora of other compliance requirements while also responding appropriately to the local context and climatic conditions and aligning with the budget and programme.
Designing Health Care buildings is one of the more challenging fields of Architecture as the world of clinical practice and medical technology is ever evolving and, while budgets decrease, the public need for access to adequate health care services continues to grow, particularly in the African context.
As an architect working for the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness, I am in the fortunate position to have access to clinical and operational experts working daily in all spheres of the public health care environment including Infection Prevention and Control.
We are currently working on two new 650 bed regional hospitals for Cape Town and with reference to the planning process and layout examples from these projects as well as the associated understanding gained through consultations with the above mentioned colleagues, the presentation will provide insight into various IPC considerations that should be informing our health care facility designs from key strategic decisions at a macro level through to space planning and adjacencies as well as individual room layouts.
Designing Health Care buildings is one of the more challenging fields of Architecture as the world of clinical practice and medical technology is ever evolving and, while budgets decrease, the public need for access to adequate health care services continues to grow, particularly in the African context.
As an architect working for the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness, I am in the fortunate position to have access to clinical and operational experts working daily in all spheres of the public health care environment including Infection Prevention and Control.
We are currently working on two new 650 bed regional hospitals for Cape Town and with reference to the planning process and layout examples from these projects as well as the associated understanding gained through consultations with the above mentioned colleagues, the presentation will provide insight into various IPC considerations that should be informing our health care facility designs from key strategic decisions at a macro level through to space planning and adjacencies as well as individual room layouts.
Biography
Duncan Rendall qualified as an architect at UCT in 1992 and later obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Health Technology Management from UCT in 2012.
He spent nearly 20 years working in the private sector before joining the Western Cape Department of Health & Wellness in 2011. Currently, he serves as the Chief Architect, overseeing infrastructure norms and standards across all types of health facilities.
At the Department, our current focus is on developing standardised facility and room layouts, as well as materials, fixtures, finishes, and operational narratives for each facility type. Our goal is to provide design and implementation teams with a clearer understanding of the services our buildings need to accommodate. By applying principles of flexible, salutogenic design, we aim to ensure our facilities are more contextually appropriate, resilient, and cost-effective.
Changing environmental and legislative conditions have also prompted us to reassess the operation of our buildings, particularly regarding engineering services.
