Uniklinikum Aachen

Universitätsklinikum Aachen
RWTH Aachen University
Universitätsklinikum Aachen
Geography
Location	Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia, DE
Organisation
Type	Teaching
Affiliated university	RWTH Aachen University
Services
Beds	1297
Helipad	Yes
History
Opened	1966
Links
Website	www.ukaachen.de

University hospital Aachen

University hospital Aachen, front view

University hospital Aachen, lobby

New heliport, constructed from 2010 to 2011

Typical design elements and colors of the building

The Uniklinikum Aachen, full German name Universitätsklinikum Aachen ("University Hospital Aachen", abbreviated UKA), formerly known as Neues Klinikum ("New Clinic"), is the university hospital of the city of Aachen, Germany. It is part of the RWTH Aachen and contains its whole medical faculty.

Seen from far away, for many visitors the hospital looks like an oil refinery rather than a hospital, due to the huge striped ventilation pipes that are attached to the outer walls.

The Uniklinikum Aachen contains many specialized clinics, theoretical and clinical institutes and other research facilities, lecture halls, schools for jobs in the medical field, and all facilities necessary for a hospital like a laundry and central sterilisation.

It is the biggest single-building hospital in Europe.

History

In 1966 the RWTH Aachen school of medicine was founded. At that time, the municipal hospitals in Aachen became university hospitals, but soon it was realized that they were too small.

In 1972 the construction of the Klinikum Aachen began. Ten years later, the first rooms could be used by the faculty. The rest of the building was finished section by section. The construction was delayed because of problems with soft ground that could not support the whole building.

The official opening was celebrated in 1985. Its original name was Neues Klinikum ("New Clinic") because there was already a hospital called Klinikum in Aachen at that time; the Klinikum does not exist anymore.

Facts and figures

annual inpatients	44,768 (2008)
annual outpatients	225,727 (2008)
doctors	900 (2008)
professors	67
scientific staff	1200
non-scientific staff	5000
clinics	33
institutes	21
rooms	6600
elevators	30 (3x6 + 6x2 + 1 (working) for outpatients)
escalators	2 at the entrance

External links

• Universitätsklinikum Aachen