FBW Group completes Rwanda's University of Global Health Equity masterplan
Recreational facilities, including sports grounds, and spaces for conventions and events are also part of the overall planned development. The masterplan includes several public open spaces, designed to foster a feeling of equity and community, as well as quiet areas where students can meet, study, and share ideas.
Aiming to cater for more than 400 students by 2025, the medical and public health school, which is embedded in a Global Health Equity care system, represents a major investment in the country’s next generation of healthcare professionals. Several new graduate and postgraduate programmes will provide specialised training for medical experts to lead the response to the ever-challenging national and global public health care demands of the 21st century.
'Dramatic local landscape'
The first phase of the 250-acre Butaro campus, located 80 miles north of Kigali, was opened by the Partners In Health organisation in 2019.
“Butaro is a stunning part of Rwanda," says Paul Semanda, FBW's Rwanda country director. "We’ve based our design ideas around the university’s fantastic setting, on top of a hill surrounded by green rolling hills and overlooking the beautiful lake of Burera.
“That dramatic local landscape was a major influence in our thinking, alongside Rwanda’s heritage and history.
“Buildings have been designed to take full advantage of the stunning prospects, through carefully controlled pedestrianised streets and squares."
He added: “Sustainability was another large consideration, with natural lighting and ventilation harnessed wherever possible, as well as the use of solar heating and lighting technologies.
“It has been an exciting programme to be involved in. Everyone has worked very hard and diligently to deliver such a major project under the challenging Covid-19 restrictions we have faced.
“It has been a ‘labour of love’ and we are all proud of the work delivered to support the education of Rwanda’s public health professionals, as we play our role in delivering the key objectives of the Vision 2050 for the country.”
