Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital unveils plans for first phase redevelopment project

Toronto-based Cannon Design has been chosen to lead the planning, design and compliance aspects of the Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital project, which is the hospital’s first major redevelopment in more than 40 years.

The project will include the construction of a new, six-storey patient-care tower and significant renovations to existing space. Highlights include 77 additional inpatient beds, expansion of the diagnostic imaging and medical diagnostics unit, new operating rooms, post-anaesthetic care unit and expanded ambulatory

procedures area, a new ambulatory care and cancer centre, a new main entrance, and a new laboratory.

In the early phase of the redevelopment plan, an 850-space parking garage, the Halton McMaster Family Health Centre, and hospital administrative space will be constructed. The family health centre will be approximately 15,000 square feet and will be a home to six family doctors and another 10 resident physicians per year. The administrative space will span 14,000 square feet, while the parking garage is designed to expand vertically with an additional three levels. The medical building itself will be designed to achieve LEED Silver standards, and will be three stories high. It is also designed to add an additional three levels. Construction is expected to complete by January 2014.

In the second phase, which is expected to start by December 2014, new operating rooms, an expanded cancer clinic and about 80 additional in-patient beds, which will boost the hospital’s capacity by nearly one-third, will be constructed. It will include 288,000 square feet of new construction including a new six-storey south tower, 32,000 square feet for a new power plant and approximately 116,000 square feet of renovations to the existing hospital building.

This project got a commitment from city of Burlington of $60 million, which will be used to provide equipment for the second phase of the expansion. Another $60 million will be provided by the Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital Foundation. After completion of the second phase, the main entrance to the hospital will face Lakeshore Road instead of its existing orientation toward North Shore Boulevard. The medical building is a joint venture between JBMH and McMaster University, with support from the city of Burlington, and Halton Region.