Shahid Rajaee Heart Center Staff Restaurant — Design & Renovation

Project Introduction

ESPO designed and renovated the staff restaurant at Shahid Rajaee Heart Center in Tehran, transforming a previously underused and neglected part of the hospital site into a dedicated dining and rest environment for staff and physicians.

The project forms part of ESPO’s wider architectural, MEP, interior design and implementation work at Shahid Rajaee Heart Center, where staff and physicians’ restaurants are included in the documented project scope.

Existing-Site Challenge

The restaurant was developed within an existing area of the hospital site located close to a roadway. The original space had limited functional value and required substantial architectural reorganization and renovation before it could support a large staff dining program.

Design and Renovation Approach

The intervention combined architectural planning, interior design and implementation. A large circular glazed dome was introduced over the main dining hall to bring daylight into the center of the space. The dome is supported by a ring of columns arranged around a tiered central fountain, creating a strong spatial focus and a composition inspired by traditional Iranian garden and pavilion imagery.

• Adaptive reuse and renovation of an existing underused hospital space
• Architectural planning of the staff dining hall and support areas
• Interior design and material coordination
• MEP coordination within the renovated restaurant
• Design and installation of the glazed dome and its supporting elements
• Central fountain and circular spatial organization
• Dining, buffet/service and support-zone coordination
• Interior fit-out and implementation

Interior Identity

The completed dining hall is organized around the fountain and skylight. Light stone-toned flooring, darker geometric floor bands, textured columns, warm timber details and neutral furniture establish a consistent interior palette. The buffet zone uses curved glazing, planting and timber cladding to visually connect the service area with the main restaurant.

Before and Construction Process

The project documentation includes both pre-renovation and construction-phase imagery. These views record the existing open and unfinished condition, the installation of lightweight steel framing and roof components, and the transformation of the site into the completed staff restaurant.

ESPO Role

Based on the project record and the documented renovation sequence, ESPO’s role is classified under Strengthening & Renovation together with Design, Consulting & Interior Design. The project is not categorized as a new-build construction project because the restaurant was created by transforming and upgrading an existing hospital-space condition.