Nice University Hospital: Streamlining the technical management of a next-generation hospital building using the CEDI® solution
Nice University Hospital: Streamlining the technical management of a next-generation hospital building using the CEDI® solution
How Equans France and its subsidiaries have contributed to the healthcare, operational, and energy performance of the new Pasteur Hospital at the Nice University Hospital
As part of the expansion of Pasteur Hospital, the Nice University Hospital launched an ambitious project aimed at increasing its patient capacity, expanding outpatient services, and providing both patients and healthcare professionals with an environment that meets the highest standards of hospital performance. This new 28,600 m² building features state-of-the-art medical equipment, next-generation operating rooms, intensive care units, and the critical technical infrastructure essential to the facility’s smooth operation.
To address the technical, energy, and operational challenges of this large-scale hospital project, the Nice University Hospital drew on the complementary expertise of Equans France and its subsidiaries Equans Digital and Buildings, Infrastructures & Services. While the entity Buildings, Infrastructures & Services leveraged its expertise in the design, implementation, and integration of building technical infrastructure and HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning), Equans Digital contributed its expertise in automation, control, monitoring, and management of critical systems using the solution CEDI®. This synergy made it possible to offer a comprehensive, high-performance solution perfectly tailored to the healthcare sector’s requirements.
The Challenges Facing the Nice University Hospital
The expansion project for the Nice University Hospital presented several major technical and organisational challenges:
- Doubling the facility’s capacity.
- Support the growth of outpatient services.
- Ensure optimal care conditions.
- Ensure efficient management of technical infrastructure.
- Meet ambitious energy efficiency goals.
- Maintain a high level of quality despite construction constraints.
- Manage a nine-story hospital building with complex logistics access.
In an environment as sensitive as a hospital, the reliability of air-handling systems is essential to the quality of care, patient safety, and the comfort of medical staff.
The solutions implemented by Equans France and its business units
To support the construction and operation of this strategic hospital infrastructure, the teams at Equans France—including its Buildings, Infrastructures and Services divisions and Equans Digital—deployed a solution combining expertise in automation, air handling, building management systems (BMS), and the industrialisation of technical equipment. At the heart of the system, the CEDI® was selected to standardise the control of air handling units (AHUs) and simplify their large-scale deployment. Thanks to a preconfigured, scalable architecture compatible with the leading monitoring systems on the market, this solution reduces project complexity, accelerates commissioning phases, and ensures consistent operation of the facilities. This industrialised approach helps meet the healthcare sector’s high standards for air quality, equipment availability, and energy efficiency.
The success of this project relies on the combined expertise of Equans France and its divisions Equans Digital and Buildings, Infrastructures & Services. The Buildings, Infrastructures & Services unit contributed to the development of the technical infrastructure essential to the operation of the new hospital complex, while Equans Digital oversaw the implementation of automation, building management, control, and air handling unit management solutions. This integrated approach ensured seamless coordination between the building’s equipment and the digital systems that guarantee its day-to-day operational performance.
The teams carried out:
- Detailed technical studies.
- System sizing.
- BIM modeling of the project.
- Coordination among the various stakeholders.
- Logistical planning for the construction site.
This approach ensured the safe execution of the work despite accessibility constraints and the complexity of the hospital building.
At the heart of the project, the CEDI® control panels were selected to automate the control of the air-handling systems.
The solution is based on:
- A standardised control panel compatible with over 80% of air handling units.
- A standalone architecture with one dedicated control panel per air handling unit.
- A pre-integrated DISTECH CONTROL controller.
- Standardised connections that simplify deployment.
- A configurator that allows you to tailor control functions to the building’s needs.
- Native compatibility with all building management systems through the use of open protocols.
CEDI®: An Industrialised Approach to Deploying CTAs at the Nice University Hospital
A flagship project demonstrating Equans France’s ability to support healthcare facilities
This project illustrates the ability of Equans France to support healthcare facilities in their most strategic projects thanks to the complementary expertise of its divisions Equans Digital and Buildings, Infrastructures & Services. By combining expertise in technical infrastructure, proficiency in HVAC systems, and advanced facility automation, the teams helped create a high-performance, reliable, and sustainable hospital environment. This comprehensive approach enables us to support healthcare providers in the continuous improvement of their infrastructure while ensuring service quality, energy efficiency, and the continuity of critical operations.
Benefits Achieved at the Nice University Hospital
Beyond the success of the project, the implementation of the CEDI® control panel has enabled the Nice University Hospital to benefit from a technical infrastructure that is more efficient, more reliable, and easier to operate on a day-to-day basis. By standardising the control of air handling units (AHUs) and facilitating their integration into the building, the solution helps ensure safer patient care environments, optimise technical operations, and sustainably improve the overall performance of the facilities. Operations teams now have equipment that is easier to maintain, while the facility benefits from better control over timelines, operating costs, and the service continuity essential to the smooth running of hospital operations.
The project led to the creation of:
- 10 new operating rooms.
- 119 additional patient rooms.
- 24 intensive care rooms.
Air handling and control systems help maintain the sanitary conditions essential for critical hospital environments.
Integrating CEDI® enclosures helps standardise installations and simplify their long-term operation.
- Faster deployment of technical systems.
- Easier maintenance.
- Reduction in custom development.
- Simplified configuration of control functions.
- Scalability of installations over time.
The deployed systems enable:
- Advanced control of regulation functions.
- Optimisation of temperature and humidity.
- Air quality management.
- Implementation of free-cooling strategies.
- Monitoring energy consumption using integrated metering devices.
At the Nice University Hospital, the availability of air-handling systems is essential to ensuring the smooth operation of medical activities and compliance with health requirements in sensitive areas. The standardisation provided by the CEDI® solution enables technical teams to benefit from a more robust, predictable, and easier-to-maintain infrastructure. By standardising operating procedures and maintenance tasks, the control panel reduces the risk of equipment downtime, simplifies diagnostic procedures, and speeds up corrective actions. This approach helps ensure the safe day-to-day operation of facilities while guaranteeing the service continuity that is essential for patient comfort, the work of healthcare providers, and the quality of care.
FAQ – CEDI® Solution and Hospital CTA Automation
Air Handling Units (AHUs) play a vital role in healthcare facilities. They control air quality, temperature, humidity, and air exchange in sensitive areas such as operating rooms, intensive care units, laboratories, and cleanrooms. A high-performance AHU directly contributes to patient safety, the comfort of healthcare staff, and compliance with health and safety requirements.
Hospital HVAC projects must meet particularly demanding requirements: continuity of service, compliance with health standards, adherence to construction schedules, energy efficiency, and the maintenance of medical operations. The installation, configuration, and commissioning phases can account for a significant portion of the project’s overall cost and duration.
CEDI® is a standardised solution designed by Equans Digital to streamline the deployment of air handling units. The cabinet integrates the automation, regulation, and control functions necessary for the operation of AHUs while simplifying their installation, commissioning, and maintenance.
The CEDI® solution helps reduce commissioning times, standardise technical architectures, simplify maintenance operations, and improve the reliability of facilities. It also helps reduce project risks, facilitate the day-to-day operation of air handling units, and improve service continuity in critical areas of healthcare facilities.
Thanks to its industrialised approach and standardised engineering, CEDI® significantly reduces configuration tasks and on-site interventions. As a result, certain commissioning phases can be reduced from approximately 40 hours to just a few minutes, enabling project teams to meet their delivery deadlines and accelerate the start of operations for the facilities.
Standardising equipment helps harmonise design, operation, and maintenance practices. It facilitates the training of technical teams, reduces the risk of errors, improves facility availability, and simplifies the deployment of new equipment across the entire hospital network.
Automation enables precise control of air-handling equipment, better management of environmental conditions, and energy optimisation of the systems. It also helps improve equipment reliability, facilitate monitoring, and enhance the quality of service within the hospital.
Improving energy efficiency relies in particular on optimising control strategies, adjusting airflow rates to actual needs, monitoring energy consumption, intelligently managing equipment, and continuously analysing performance. Automated systems enable significant savings while maintaining health and safety requirements.
Building Management Systems (BMS) enable the monitoring and control of all technical equipment in a healthcare facility: heating, ventilation, air conditioning, lighting, energy systems, and critical infrastructure. They help improve the operational performance, maintenance, and energy efficiency of hospital buildings.
A Large-Scale CTA Project in a Hospital Setting
Optimise Your Hospital Infrastructure with Equans Digital
Whether you’re planning to build a new facility, modernise your HVAC systems, or optimise your air handling units, the experts at Equans Digital will support you every step of the way. Work with our experts to design the hospital infrastructure of tomorrow. Contact our experts today.Optimise Your Hospital Infrastructure with Equans Digital
Whether you’re planning to build a new facility, modernise your HVAC systems, or optimise your air handling units, the experts at Equans Digital will support you every step of the way. Work with our experts to design the hospital infrastructure of tomorrow. Contact our experts today.