Cintocare Private Hospital – Africa’s First 5-Star Green Hospital

This photograph captures Cintocare Hospital, a specialist surgical hospital forming part of the Menlyn Maine mixed-use precinct in Pretoria, Gauteng. Completed in 2020 and opened in 2021, the 11,000 m² facility was developed by Growthpoint Properties in partnership with Cintocare. It was conceived as a high-performance clinical centre focused specifically on head, neck, spinal and vascular surgery. The striking contemporary building is clearly visible in the photograph, with its extensive glass façade and flowing illuminated architectural elements creating a distinctive presence within the Menlyn Maine precinct. Cintocare became the first hospital in Africa to achieve a 5-Star Green Star Custom Healthcare certification, making the building an important example of sustainable healthcare architecture on the continent.

The architect was A3 Architects, working with Zutari on engineering and environmentally sustainable design. The architectural concept responds to the specialised medical function of the building through a contemporary façade incorporating curved and flowing elements inspired by the form of spinal vertebrae. These elements provide solar shading while giving the hospital a recognisable identity. The extensive glazed façade creates a strong connection between the interior clinical environment and the surrounding Menlyn Maine precinct, while the building’s layered volumes and illuminated edges become particularly prominent after sunset, as shown in this photograph.

Location: Cintocare Hospital is located at 175 Frikkie de Beer Street within Menlyn Maine, Menlyn, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa. The hospital occupies a prominent position adjacent to Menlyn Maine Central Square and benefits from direct connections to the surrounding retail, restaurant and commercial environment. Its position within one of Pretoria’s major mixed-use precincts provides patients, medical specialists and visitors with access to a range of supporting services.

Completed: 2020, with construction having started in 2018. The facility was completed during the COVID-19 pandemic and opened in 2021. The development represented an investment of approximately R470 million.

Architectural Style: Contemporary healthcare architecture combining extensive glazing, curved façade elements, layered horizontal volumes and integrated environmental design. The façade incorporates features inspired by spinal vertebrae, reflecting the hospital’s specialist medical focus.

Building Use: Specialist private surgical hospital and clinical centre of excellence focused on head, neck, spinal and vascular surgery. The 100-bed facility includes consulting rooms, five operating theatres including a hybrid theatre, specialist medical facilities, radiology, pathology, physiotherapy and other healthcare services. It was designed with capacity to expand to 160 beds.

Sustainability is central to the building’s design and operation. Cintocare incorporates energy-efficient systems, water-saving measures, natural-light strategies and other environmentally responsive technologies. The hospital also became South Africa’s first hospital to generate its own medical oxygen on demand using a Pressure Swing Adsorption plant. Its 5-Star Green Star certification established a significant benchmark for sustainable healthcare facilities in Africa.

 

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