Final beam installed at West Park project
The final beam structural beam for West Park Healthcare Centre’s new hospital was hoisted into place on August 11.
The installation of the beam marks the latest milestone in the construction of the $1.2 billion facility located in Toronto. Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Christine Elliott, and Minister of Infrastructure Kinga Surma were among 75 guests who were invited to sign the final beam before it was installed.
“When these doors open, this new facility will provide residents here in the western GTA with access to the high-quality care they deserve…where and when they need it,” said Ford. “Our government is fully committed to fortifying our health care sector, and West Park Healthcare Centre will play a major part in helping us achieve that goal.”
The hospital development project sees the construction of a six-storey, approximately 730,000-square foot hospital that will create an accessible, senior-friendly and green environment that is flexible and technologically advanced to deliver more enhanced and integrated rehabilitative services. The project scope includes: construction of the new building, demolition of the Main, Ruddy, Gage and maintenance buildings, creation of new campus entrance, and renewal of green space.
West Park reached financial close on the project in August 2018, and the work was awarded to EllisDon Infrastructure Healthcare, a consortium led by EllisDon and featuring CannonDesign Ltd & Montgomery Sisam Architects and mechanical and electrical subcontractors Modern Niagara Toronto Inc. & Ozz Electric Inc.
Once complete, the new hospital will accommodate rehabilitation and complex continuing care beds, expanded outpatient services, community living and outreach programs. Features include: 314 inpatient beds, a significant increase in outpatient care space to serve double the current patient volume, and two new services: geriatric day hospital and clinics, and satellite hemodialysis.
The hospital will also a dedicated wing designed for airborne containment. West Park will have similar, smaller containment zones called airborne isolation rooms throughout. The new facility will also feature a state-of-the-art HVAC system ensuring only 100 percent fresh air is pumped in from the outdoors, eliminating the need for re-circulated air and removing the potential transmission of airborne pathogens.
The construction timeline is 2018 to 2023.
“West Park’s century-long legacy of caring for people with tuberculosis made pandemic planning a priority from the start,” said West Park President and CEO Anne-Marie Malek. “This milestone brings us closer to opening a cutting-edge facility that will be at the forefront in responding to future pandemics and continuing in our role in providing care to those with respiratory illnesses.”
With demand for West Park’s rehabilitative services expected to grow, the transformation and expansion of the campus of care will improve access to care and increase West Park’s capacity to serve the needs of patients with various health challenges, traumatic injuries and chronic illnesses such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, tuberculosis, amputations, strokes, neurological and musculoskeletal conditions.
Featured image: The final structural beam at the new West Park Healthcare Centre was installed on August 11. (West Park Healthcare Centre)