Building a Fortress of Safety: Focus on New Seismic Design Standards for Hospitals and Schools

When the shadow of disaster looms over the land, hospitals and schools—as critical hubs of society’s lifeline—play a vital role; their seismic resilience directly determines the survival of lives and the hope for the future. In recent years, the frequent occurrence of seismic disasters worldwide has prompted countries to deeply reevaluate and systematically upgrade seismic standards for public buildings. Focusing on the seismic design of hospitals and schools is no longer merely a routine engineering task to meet regulatory requirements; it has evolved into a comprehensive strategy to build a “fortress of safety” for society. Behind this lies a deep integration of design philosophy, technical standards, and humanistic care.

Traditional seismic design approaches often prioritize ensuring that the building’s main structure “does not collapse”—that is, even if the building sustains severe damage after a major earthquake, it must avoid total collapse to buy time for occupants to evacuate. However, for hospitals and schools, this standard is no longer sufficient. Hospitals must immediately undertake the arduous task of treating the injured after an earthquake; their emergency departments, operating rooms, intensive care units, pharmacies, and energy supply systems must be able to continue operating safely and continuously after the quake. Such buildings are referred to as “critical earthquake-resistant and disaster-preparedness facilities.” Schools, on the other hand, are places where large numbers of minors are concentrated; their safety is not only a matter of the present but also closely tied to the future of countless families and the stability of society. Therefore, new design standards are shifting from “ensuring life safety” to “ensuring functional sustainability,” emphasizing the higher goal of “remaining undamaged in minor earthquakes, repairable in moderate earthquakes, and maintaining critical functions without interruption in major earthquakes.”

Achieving this goal first requires a fundamental shift in design philosophy. Seismic design must expand from a narrow focus on “structural seismic resistance” to “systemic seismic resistance.” This means that, in addition to designing primary structural elements such as beams, columns, and walls to meet higher seismic design intensity standards, the connection and anchoring methods of non-structural components within the building—such as suspended ceilings, curtain walls, piping systems, medical equipment, bookshelves, and laboratory equipment—must also be subject to rigorous seismic considerations. During an earthquake, the detachment, toppling, or damage of these non-structural components is often the primary cause of casualties, blocked passageways, and even functional paralysis. For example, surgical lights in operating rooms, oxygen pipelines in hospitals, and chemical reagent cabinets in schools must all undergo specialized seismic anchoring design.

Innovations in technical methods provide a solid foundation for building “fortresses of safety.” Performance-based seismic design methods are increasingly becoming the mainstream approach. Designers can set differentiated seismic performance targets based on the functional importance of different building zones and use advanced computational tools, such as elastoplastic time-history analysis, to conduct detailed simulations. The application of seismic isolation and energy-dissipating technologies has also become more widespread. Installing seismic isolation bearings in the foundations or between floors of hospital and school buildings can effectively dissipate seismic energy and significantly reduce the seismic forces acting on the superstructure, much like putting a pair of “cushioned shoes” on the building. Additionally, using high-ductility building materials, establishing multiple lines of seismic defense, and optimizing building geometry to avoid torsional effects are all effective ways to enhance seismic resilience.

The implementation of the new standards relies on strict control throughout the entire lifecycle. Starting with site selection and planning, locations prone to active faults, landslides, or liquefaction must be avoided. During the design phase, multidisciplinary and integrated collaborative design is essential to ensure the seamless integration of architecture, structural engineering, MEP systems, and medical or educational workflows. Quality control and material testing during the construction phase are critical; any cutting of corners could undermine even the most meticulous design. After completion, regular seismic inspections, maintenance, and retrofitting of existing buildings that do not meet the new standards are equally indispensable for safeguarding safety. In particular, conducting scientific seismic assessments and retrofitting many older hospital and school buildings is an urgent task for enhancing society’s overall disaster resilience.

More profoundly, the new seismic design standards for hospitals and schools carry social value that transcends the engineering project itself. A hospital that remains standing and continues to operate during an earthquake serves as a “beacon” for post-disaster relief, greatly stabilizing public confidence and enhancing society’s overall resilience against disasters. A safe school is not only a sanctuary for children’s learning but can also be transformed into an emergency shelter when necessary, providing refuge for the local community. Therefore, investment in this area represents the highest respect for life and the most responsible investment in the future.

Building a safe fortress for hospitals and schools is a systematic endeavor that integrates technology, management, institutional frameworks, and humanistic values. Focusing on and strictly enforcing these continuously evolving new standards means we are transforming society’s vulnerabilities into points of strength. When disaster strikes, these meticulously designed buildings will be more than just cold concrete spaces; they will become warm havens that safeguard the hope of life and sustain the functioning of society, truly fulfilling the solemn pledge of “the people first, life first.” This requires us to maintain our focus, continue our exploration, and pour the most advanced knowledge, the most rigorous attitude, and the deepest compassion into every public building that concerns life and the future.