Ontario Construction News staff writer
The doors will open Feb. 7 at the Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital, the first newly built hospital in Ontario in more than 30 years. The facility will initially operate as a systemwide resource providing 35 critical care and 150 general medicine beds for non-critical patients from other hospitals, and easing COVID-19 capacity pressures.
Plenary Health is the preferred proponent to design, build, finance and maintain the new Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital.
Infrastructure Ontario (IO) and Mackenzie Health (MH) selected Plenary Health in August 2016 after extensive evaluations following a request for proposals process that began in June 2015.
The Plenary Health team includes:
- Developer: Plenary Group (Canada) Ltd.
- Design: Stantec Architecture Ltd.
- Design Builder: PCL Constructors Canada Inc.
- Facilities management: Johnson Controls Canada LP
- Financial Advisor: Plenary Group (Canada) Ltd.
“I want to especially thank Mackenzie Health for stepping up to allow us to temporarily use this new facility to support our COVID-19 response and take pressure off other hospitals in the region,” Premier Doug Ford said on Monday. “It’s these kinds of innovative partnerships that make a world of difference in our fight against this deadly virus.”
Once COVID-19 capacity pressures have stabilized, the new hospital will provide care and services to patients from across the western York Region as originally planned, including emergency and modern surgical services, and offer advanced diagnostic imaging capabilities, intensive care beds, medicine, birthing, pediatrics and mental health services, as well as the York Region District Stroke Centre.
“In a few short weeks, the Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital will open its doors to address the critical need for ICU beds in this Province, at a time when it is so desperately needed,” said Vaughan Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua.
“The Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital is a cornerstone of our city-building efforts and demonstrates what can be achieved when we work together.”
Some of the features at the new building include:
- A state-of-the-art emergency department
- Modern surgical services and operating rooms
- Advanced diagnostic imaging
- Specialized ambulatory clinics and intensive care beds
- Approximately 90 per cent single occupancy acute-care patient rooms for infection prevention and control
- Integrated “smart” digital technology systems that deliver the right information, to the right care location, at the right time, to enhance the patient care experience
The design and construction of the Learning Resource Commons adheres to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver standards. LEED buildings focus on healthy indoor environments, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and efficient use of energy, water and other resources.
The inclusion of a separately procured contract for managed ICAT services infrastructure was unique to this project. Plenary Health entered into an additional agreement with the Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital selected provider, Compugen Inc., for the delivery of IT, ensuring flexibility to serve short and long-term IT needs.
Operations at Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital will continue as they are while Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital temporarily focuses on supporting the province’s short-term pandemic response. The emergency department at Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital will remain open to serve the community.
“The Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital is a cornerstone of our city-building efforts and demonstrates what can be achieved when we work together,” said Vaughan Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua.