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Mediclinic Beyond Compliance: How Summertown Builds Healthcare Environments That Care

Published:
November 21, 2025

Over more than a decade, Summertown Interiors and Mediclinic have developed one of the UAE’s most successful healthcare fit-out partnerships, delivering major projects across Dubai and Abu Dhabi. This joint commitment has produced measurable outcomes: 67% waste diversion from landfills, 98% on-time delivery, and zero lost-time safety incidents across 1.1 million man-hours worked.

How do you build trust in an industry where precision, regulation, and empathy must co-exist? At Summertown Interiors, we believe the answer lies in consistency. Not just in delivery, but in values. Over the past decade, our partnership with Mediclinic has evolved into a benchmark for sustainable healthcare fit-out across the UAE. This is not just a case study. It’s a story of shared goals, deeply collaborative relationships, and designing environments that are as kind to people as they are to the planet.

The Backbone of Trust: A Partnership Rooted in Performance

In healthcare, trust is everything. From the moment we embarked on our first project with Mediclinic, we recognised the gravity of designing for healing. It’s more than just finishes and fixtures. It’s about creating spaces that support patient wellbeing, enable clinical excellence, and meet stringent regulatory standards. Over time, that initial scope has grown into a portfolio of diverse, high-impact fit-outs that stretch across the Mediclinic network. Each one has presented its own challenges, and each one has reinforced the trust between our two teams.

Across six key projects, a consistent thread emerges:

  • Shared commitment to quality built into every technical detail
  • Sustainable delivery embedded from procurement through to post-handover
  • End-user focus with patients, clinicians, and operational staff considered from day one
  • On-time, compliant execution across MEP works, medical equipment, and civil fit-out
  • Safety excellence with zero lost-time incidents across 1.1 million man-hours

Let’s explore some of the flagship projects that have shaped this long-standing collaboration.

City Hospital, Dubai: Designing for Recovery

Our recent work on Mediclinic City Hospital’s Physiotherapy Facility marks a high point in this partnership. Not because it was the largest, but because it so clearly aligned with Summertown’s ethos.

The brief required us to create a bespoke, design-and-build space that would deliver:

  • A calming, therapeutic atmosphere
  • Seamless integration of gym and rehabilitation equipment
  • High standards of infection control and hygiene
  • Sustainable construction methods and material choices

What made this project stand out was the precision of its design language. Tactile, warm finishes were chosen to instil calm, whilst every spatial decision was made with functionality in mind.

Our team implemented green waste management protocols in alignment with our Sustainable Delivery Standard. , which included:

  • Reuse and responsible disposal of materials
  • Detailed waste tracking to ensure regulatory compliance
  • Low-emission adhesives and finishes to improve air quality

As a leading sustainable fit-out company, Summertown ensured that environmental goals were never treated as afterthoughts.

Airport Road Hospital, Abu Dhabi: Complexity with Clarity

Few environments are as technically demanding as endoscopy zones, operating theatres, and outpatient clinics. At Mediclinic Airport Road Hospital, Summertown delivered fit-out and MEP works across multiple zones, working alongside design partners Stantec and Al Bhari.

Scope at a glance:

  • 635 sqm: Renovation of Endoscopy Zones B & C (Building A)
  • 1,100 sqm: Outpatient Department and Basement Fit-Out
  • MEP Integration: Including AHUs, VRF systems, and IPS panels for operating theatres

What made this project exceptional was the sheer coordination it demanded. From managing sterile environments to ensuring medical systems were fully supported through dedicated infrastructure. Our team installed:

  • Two air handling units (AHUs) and two fresh air handling units (FAHUs)
  • Ten VRF systems and three extract fans
  • IPS panels for critical power management in operating theatres

Despite the complexity, the project was delivered on time and within clinical regulations. This success reflected our internal project governance, safety protocols, and technical precision in operating within active healthcare environments.

Mediclinic Parkview: Movement Meets Medicine

The Sports Medicine and Rehab Centre at Mediclinic Parkview represents a pioneering move in the UAE. A purpose-built environment that merges sports science, rehabilitation, and clinical therapy under one roof.

Summertown handled the full 1,107 sqm interior fit-out, working with Stantec (main patient zones) and Leisure Direct (gym design) to create:

  • A high-performance rehab gym
  • Personalised treatment rooms
  • Open, naturally lit patient spaces

This facility wasn’t just about function. It was about inspiring recovery. Giving patients the motivation and confidence to move, heal, and return stronger.

We treated the space like an elite training environment, built with:

  • Durable yet warm materials that withstand intensive use
  • Acoustic separation for quiet recovery zones
  • Biophilic design touches to enhance mental wellbeing

These values of wellness and durability are central to our reputation as a healthcare interior fit-out specialist that tailors each project to the people who use the space, not just the programme requirements.

🎥 Take a closer look at the finished result in our project video: Watch the full walk-through of Mediclinic’s Sports Medicine and Rehab Centre

Additional Healthcare Excellence: Dermatology and Creek Harbour Clinics

Mediclinic Airport Road Dermatology Clinic

At Mediclinic Airport Road’s new Dermatology Clinic, Summertown was tasked with designing a 300 sqm space that felt both elegant and functional. From the contemporary reception area to the facial and laser treatment rooms, the clinic balances soft, neutral tones with precision-engineered surfaces that are easy to maintain.

The design prioritised:

  • Patient comfort and privacy
  • Clinical functionality and workflow efficiency
  • Easy-to-clean surfaces meeting infection control standards
  • Calming aesthetic supporting patient wellbeing
Modern dermatology treatment room with ergonomic chair, medical lighting, neutral tones, and a sign reading 'Renew, Reshape, Refine'.

Mediclinic Dubai Creek Harbour

The Dubai Creek Harbour clinic required us to merge three ground-floor units into one cohesive medical environment spanning 862 sqm. The layout, complete with consultation rooms, nurse stations, and waiting areas, is both child-friendly and adult-centric.

This project exemplified adaptive healthcare fit-out, where spatial challenges are solved without compromising patient experience. The design team from Massa Interior Design & Architecture created a modern, welcoming facility that provides a warm, supportive environment where individuals and families can pursue optimal health whilst feeling comfortable and cared for.

Modern medical clinic reception with soft seating, vertical acoustic panels, indoor greenery, and sculptural pendant lighting at Mediclinic Dubai Creek Harbour.

How Sustainability Was Embedded Not Added Later

Sustainability wasn’t a feature of these projects. It was a foundation. Every phase, from demolition to handover, was evaluated through our Summertown Sustainable Delivery Standard.

Measurable Environmental Outcomes

Waste Diversion:

  • 67% of project waste diverted from landfill across Mediclinic projects
  • Detailed tracking and reporting on all waste streams

Material Selection:

  • Low-VOC materials used throughout all projects to protect indoor air quality
  • FSC-certified timber for joinery and feature elements
  • Recycled content materials specified where performance allowed

Energy Efficiency:

  • Integration with LEED protocols where applicable
  • Energy-conscious MEP designs throughout
  • High-efficiency lighting and HVAC systems

Procurement Ethics:

  • All vendors screened for compliance with our supply chain ethics programme
  • 100% vendor vetting completed before engagement
  • Ongoing monitoring of supplier sustainability practices

These practices are a clear expression of our identity as a sustainable fit-out contractor in Dubai. With every project, we advance our Journey2030 vision to ensure that environmental outcomes are as tangible as aesthetic ones.

Want to understand our full environmental and social impact in healthcare and beyond? Visit our Sustainability Hub

What Sets Summertown Apart in Healthcare Fit-Outs

Delivering healthcare environments demands absolute precision, deep regulatory understanding, and genuine empathy.

  • Absolute precision with no room for error
  • Deep understanding of regulatory frameworks including HAAD, DHA, and infection control
  • Empathy, because the patient journey must be considered in every corner

Summertown has developed a specialisation in this sector, backed by:

  • Decades of cumulative healthcare experience
  • A dedicated Health, Safety and Environment charter
  • Real-time project oversight and stakeholder collaboration
  • Post-occupancy support and maintenance protocols

This makes Summertown more than just a fit-out company in Dubai. It makes us a trusted partner for healthcare clients who cannot afford to compromise on compliance, safety, or patient comfort.

The Power of Partnership: Lessons from Mediclinic

What can future healthcare clients learn from the Summertown Interiors and Mediclinic relationship?

1. Continuity Matters

Working with a consistent fit-out partner ensures brand coherence, maintains quality standards, and fosters operational cohesion across all sites. When the same team delivers multiple projects, they develop deep understanding of your standards, preferences, and processes.

Over our decade-long partnership, we’ve learned Mediclinic’s standards intimately. This institutional knowledge accelerates every new project and reduces risk.

2. Early Collaboration Equals Better Results

Involving the fit-out team during the design phase leads to smarter, faster decisions, particularly around material specification, compliance planning, and cost optimisation.

3. Sustainability Is Now Expected

From waste tracking to energy performance, green building is no longer a bonus. It is standard practice for forward-thinking healthcare operators.

Mediclinic’s commitment to sustainability has pushed us to innovate continuously, finding new ways to reduce environmental impact whilst maintaining the clinical standards healthcare demands.

4. Patient Experience Is Shaped by Design

From acoustic control to biophilic elements, thoughtful design improves comfort, trust, and healing outcomes. Every material choice, every lighting decision, every spatial layout contributes to the patient experience.

Healthcare design must balance clinical functionality with human comfort. Get this balance right, and you create environments that genuinely support healing.

If you’re in healthcare and planning a fit-out, it’s worth seeing how our commitment to sustainable building can support your strategy: Explore real-world results in our Sustainability Hub

Frequently Asked Questions About Healthcare Fit-Out

What makes healthcare fit-out different from commercial office fit-out?

Healthcare fit-out demands absolute precision with zero tolerance for error. You’re working with stringent regulatory frameworks (HAAD, DHA, Dubai Municipality), infection control protocols, and medical equipment integration requirements that don’t exist in commercial environments. Beyond technical requirements, healthcare design must consider the patient journey, clinical workflows, and healing environments. It’s not just about building beautiful spaces, it’s about creating environments that support recovery and clinical excellence.

How do you maintain operations during healthcare fit-out projects?

We use phased construction approaches, work during off-peak hours (evenings and weekends for sensitive areas), create temporary barriers and access routes, and maintain constant communication with hospital management and clinical staff. For the Mediclinic Airport Road project, we coordinated work across multiple zones whilst ensuring patient care was never disrupted. This requires meticulous planning, flexibility, and experience working in active medical environments.

What certifications and standards do you follow for healthcare projects?

All our healthcare fit-out projects comply with DHA (Dubai Health Authority), HAAD (Health Authority Abu Dhabi), and Dubai Municipality standards. We hold ISO 9001:2015 (Quality Management) and ISO 45001:2018 (Occupational Health & Safety) certifications. Where applicable, we integrate LEED protocols for sustainability. Our team includes LEED Accredited Professionals and we maintain dedicated HSE protocols specifically for healthcare environments.

How do you ensure infection control during construction?

We implement strict infection control protocols including physical barriers and negative pressure systems where required, dedicated construction access routes separate from patient areas, regular deep cleaning and dust control measures, HEPA filtration in sensitive zones, and coordination with infection control specialists.

What is your safety record in healthcare projects?

We’ve maintained zero lost-time incidents across 1.1 million man-hours worked in 2024. This reflects our systematic approach to safety including monthly HSE Committee oversight, dedicated Workers Committee for site team input, comprehensive site inductions and ongoing training, and strict compliance with ISO 45001:2018 standards. In healthcare environments where patient safety is paramount, our safety culture is absolute.

Can you provide post-occupancy support for healthcare facilities?

Yes. Our commitment doesn’t end at handover. We provide operations manuals and training, post-occupancy evaluations, ongoing maintenance support through annual contracts, and warranty management and defect resolution. For long-term partners like Mediclinic, we maintain relationships that enable quick response to any post-occupancy needs.

In Closing: Built on Confidence, Delivered with Purpose

The work we’ve completed for Mediclinic represents more than construction milestones. It reflects the best of what healthcare fit-out can be. Deeply human, quietly innovative, and transparently sustainable. In every space, from laser treatment rooms to physiotherapy gyms, we’ve built not just for compliance but for care.

As healthcare in the UAE continues to grow, one truth remains constant. The quality of the environment shapes the quality of care. And with the right partnership, you don’t have to choose between sustainability, performance, and empathy. You can have them all.

Ready to Start Your Healthcare Project?

If your healthcare organisation is looking for a sustainable fit-out contractor that delivers lasting impact through proven expertise, measurable outcomes, and genuine partnership, we’d be honoured to help you build that future.

Next Steps:

Let’s start the conversation. Contact Summertown Interiors today.

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