New Wooden Hospital Serves as a Prototype for the Future

There are not many examples of hospitals being built with wood; however, Sakura Hospital in Chiba Prefecture is a prototype for wooden hospitals of the future.

Opened in November 2022, the facility is one of the largest hospitals in Japan to be designed and built using the 2×4 construction method and roof trusses. The three-storey hospital (33 beds) has a total floor area of 2,677 m² and incorporates over 400 m³ of structural wood products, including S-P-F dimension lumber and engineered wood joists and floor beams. The structure’s carbon storage equivalent is estimated at 474 tonnes of CO2.

The owner chose a 2×4 wood structure to create an environmentally conscious, safe and comfortable environment that accommodates the health needs of patients and staff, while offering innovative building solutions to tackle climate change.

Sakura Hospital is an excellent example of how Canada Wood/FII-funded programs and activities are fostering strong relationships with designers, engineers and contractors; partnerships that are essential to expanding opportunities for Canadian wood products beyond traditional markets.