Construction begins on new health-care complex

Elaine Davies, a 52-year-old wife and mother from Niagara Falls, is one of four patient heroes who helped break ground for the new health-care complex: “It sounds funny to say it this way, but I had the perfect heart attack. I know how lucky I was to have made it to Hamilton. I know it’s not this way for everyone.”

Heavy machinery is a telltale sign of construction of a large-scale project, especially one the size of the new health-care complex in St. Catharines.

With groundbreaking completed on April 28, there is now a tremendous amount of activity taking place at the site and with our staff and physicians regarding the new 375-bed acute care facility and Walker Family Cancer Centre.

During the month of May, the constructor for the project, PCL, is focused on preparing the site — located at the southwest corner of First Street and Fourth Avenue — for construction. This work includes removal of topsoil for future reuse, building a fence around the site, creating temporary access roads as well as establishing parking and lay-down areas for equipment.

Excavation of the building’s footprint will take place in June and July, allowing the beginnings of the concrete structure to take shape in August 2009.

Then, in May 2010, construction will begin on the building envelope, which will see the outer structure of the building take form.

Volunteers with the St. Catharines General Hospital Auxiliary share a happy moment together while helping out at the groundbreaking event.

“We are committed to engaging local labour and businesses in the delivery of this much-needed health-care facility,” said Mike Marasco, Chief Executive Officer of Plenary Health Niagara, the company responsible for the design, construction, financing and maintenance of the new building. “In addition, we will strive to keep members of the community updated on construction progress through a project website to be launched shortly as well as through open houses and other community activities.”

In the meantime, the architects are busy behind the scenes meeting with user groups made up of staff, physicians and volunteers who continue providing input into the design development process. These groups are assisting the architects in defining floor plans of every level of the health-care complex, showing walls, partitions, doors and windows, and other details.

Construction of the new facility is expected to be completed by the end of 2012, meaning the doors would open to patients in 2013.

“This health-care complex is our legacy – a legacy that will enable a healthier and more prosperous community for our children, our grandchildren and for generations to come,” said Betty-Lou Souter, Chair of the Niagara Health System Board of Trustees. “Thousands of individuals and organizations have helped make this new health-care complex come to life, all with a common cause to improve the lives and well being of friends, family members, neighbours and residents across Niagara.”

The new health-care complex project will provide a sizeable boost to the regional and Ontario economies during construction by directly and indirectly supporting and creating approximately 5,400 jobs, many of which will be in the Niagara region. At the peak of construction activity, about 1,000 workers are expected on the site daily. Approximately 200 new health-care jobs will be created once the facility opens to support the new regional services in cancer, cardiac and mental health disease.

The health-care complex will be approximately 970,000 square feet. It will be environmentally friendly and has been designed to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. Environmental features include energy efficient lighting, cooling and heating, which will help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The 375-bed replacement facility for the aging St. Catharines General and Ontario Street sites of the NHS will offer acute and critical inpatient services, surgical, emergency and ambulatory services available under one roof for the residents of St. Catharines, Thorold, Niagara-on-the Lake and the area. The facility will feature 80 per cent single patient rooms, the most available in a community hospital in Ontario. «