Construction moves inside

The concrete structure is near completion at the time this aerial photo was taken at the end of August. It won’t be long before the tower cranes start to come down and the landscape in St. Catharines changes again.

The concrete that has flowed steadily over the past year to create the structure of our new healthcare complex and Walker Family Cancer Centre comes to an end in September with the last roof being poured on one of the inpatient towers.

“The entire design and construction team worked tirelessly since the first concrete pour in August 2009 to ensure that this major phase of the project moved along without delay,” says Mike Marasco, CEO of Plenary Health, which is overseeing the project.

“As the concrete-related trades begin to demobilize on site,  work will ramp up on the interior of the facility, including placement of masonry walls and select mechanical piping and duct work,” adds Mike.

This is also a time when the workforce is expected to rise to more than 800 workers, which will be a continued economic boost for the Niagara region.

Construction continued at an aggressive pace over the summer months. One of the most visible signs of progress was the placement of pre-cast concrete panels which began in May to enclose the building exterior. Work also began on structural steel components and curtain walls which are areas of sealed aluminum-framed glass that allow natural light into the building.

All design details finalized

The final building permit was received from the City of St. Catharines at the end of July. This milestone marked the completion of the design development phase of construction, in which all details of the design are finalized between Plenary Health and the hospital.

The design development phase spanned the past several years and included input from more than 300 front-line staff, managers, physicians and volunteers as well as consultation from community partners and the public.

“The primary role of the people who served on our user groups was to review the design from their clinical points of view. They were amazing in their commitment, responding to tight timelines and detailed reviews, the outcome of which will be a functional, patient-friendly hospital,” says clinical project manager Marilyn Bellows.

“Despite these onerous demands outside of regular working hours, we have been continually impressed by the vigour and excitement shown by all involved in this process. Their dedication is truly inspiring,” adds Marilyn.

The building will become weather tight over the winter months. It won’t be long before the tower cranes start to come down and the landscape in St. Catharines changes again. «

Please visit nhs.plenaryprojects.com to learn more about the construction and development of our new healthcare complex and Walker Family Cancer Centre and to view photos and web cameras.