The new South Niagara Hospital project has reached an important milestone on the path to becoming Canada’s first WELL Certified hospital.

Niagara Health, Infrastructure Ontario, and EllisDon Infrastructure Healthcare have announced that the project has achieved WELL Precertification through the International WELL Building Institute’s WELL v2 pilot.

WELL Precertification recognizes that the project is prioritizing the health and wellbeing of the people who will use the building. Achieving WELL Precertification means the project is one step closer to being WELL Certified after the building opens in 2028. If all goes to plan, the facility would be the first WELL Certified hospital in Canada.

“WELL Precertification is an incredible achievement and I am so proud of our Niagara Health team and partners for reaching this milestone,” said Niagara Health President and CEO Lynn Guerriero. “The new hospital was designed to incorporate features that emphasize the health and wellness of the people in the building. This will not only provide a much improved healthcare environment for patients and families, but will also create a much more holistic and supportive workplace for our staff and physicians.”

Recognized worldwide throughout the architectural industry, the WELL Certification program is a scientifically developed and independently verified tool to help design buildings and measure their impact on the health and wellbeing of the occupants.

Several features of the South Niagara Hospital Project will meet WELL design standards. These include improved air and water quality, encouraged walkability within the building, and more nutritional food offerings.

The building design also places an emphasis on nature and access to natural daylight. Connecting people to nature has been shown to help improve overall health and wellbeing, which made it an obvious priority for inclusion in the hospital planning phase.

WELL building features will also offer a significant benefit to staff and physicians – those working in and using the building every day. Features such as a staff gym and team rooms, walking paths, and ergonomic workstations with height adjustable desks aim to improve the workplace culture and environment, and help recruit and retain healthcare professionals.

“WELL principles are backed by years of research and thousands of scientific studies,” said Guerriero. “By participating in the WELL program, we are investing in better outcomes for our patients and a healthier workplace environment for staff. It will help us to recruit and retain healthcare professionals by providing a healthier and more enjoyable environment that people will want to be a part of.”

WELL Precertification is an optional early review that can help projects demonstrate that health and wellbeing are primary concerns that inform the built environment. Upon building completion in 2028, the South Niagara Hospital will apply to become WELL Certified.