HDR was selected to design Humber River’s new 1.7-million-sf hospital in Toronto. The hospital will be the largest acute care hospital in the greater Toronto area and the first in North America to automate all of its operational processes.
As the first fully digital hospital in North America, the hospital is designed to support the latest medical technology in a completely digital environment.
Jerry Jeter, healthcare principal at HDR, notes that, “although many hospitals have digital components, Humber River is the first hospital in North America to fully integrate and automate all of its processes; everything is done digitally.”
Upon entering the hospital, the ability to easily access data and information enables users to “connect” from points such as kiosks situated throughout the hospital or on mobile devices anywhere in the building. Once in patient rooms, Integrated Bedside Terminals (IBTs) allow patients to control their environment, order restaurant-style room service, and communicate with caregivers and family members via video. Doctors and nurses use voice recognition software to complete charts verbally, and smart bed technology monitors patients’ vital signs and updates electronic medical records immediately. Lab work specimens are delivered via pneumatic tubes, with results returned to hand-held mobile devices within minutes. While all this is happening, Automated-Guided Vehicles (AGVs) deliver supplies and equipment to units and clinics, allowing caregivers to fully devote their time to patient care. “The new facility is as automated as they come,” added Jeter. “The technology reinvented workflows and makes patient care a top priority.”
In addition to being digital, the hospital incorporates lean and “green” sustainable design principles. The lean approach to planning emphasizes the use of on-stage/off-stage areas inside the facility, as well as consistent floor layouts, standardized rooms and clinics, and centralized support spaces. Green design is realized by maximizing daylighting opportunities, orienting the building to minimize heat gain, using sustainable materials and high-performance building systems, and incorporating green roofs on 50% of the roofs throughout the campus. The facility adheres to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system guidelines with a goal of achieving LEED Silver certification.
Visible from King’s Highway 401, Humber River is designed as a local neighborhood landmark. The design of the hospital takes inspiration from the architecture of Toronto, following clean rectilinear lines and using primarily glass, metal panel, precast concrete and masonry. The hospital is composed of three main forms: the 14-storey inpatient tower, which increases patient capacity from 549 to 656 beds; the ambulatory clinic block, designed to give each clinic its own front door; and the diagnostic and treatment podium. Adjacent to the hospital building is the centerpiece of the entire campus, the South Plaza. The terraced plaza will support community events and feature outdoor seating and areas for respite.
The value of the contract with Plenary Health Care Partnerships in today’s dollars is approximately $1.75 billion. The contract cost covers the design and construction of the hospital, building maintenance, life-cycle repair and renewal, as well as project financing. The Toronto-based Plenary Health Care Partnerships team includes: Plenary Health and HCP Social Infrastructure (developer), PCL Constructors (construction), HDR (architecture), Johnson Controls (facilities management), and RBC Capital Markets (financial advisor).
The hospital broke ground on December 2nd and is scheduled to open in late 2015. BD+C
Related Stories
| Jan 3, 2012
Callison acquires Barteluce Architects & Associates
This acquisition will grow Callison’s New York team to over 75 architects.
| Jan 3, 2012
VDK Architects merges with Harley Ellis Devereaux
Harley Ellis Devereaux will relocate the employees in its current Berkeley, Calif., office to the new Oakland office location effective January 3, 2012.
| Jan 3, 2012
Weingarten, Callan appointed to BD+C Editorial Board
Building Design+Construction has named two new members to its editorial board. Both are past recipients of BD+C’s “40 Under 40” honor.
| Jan 3, 2012
New Chicago hospital prepared for pandemic, CBR terror threat
At a cost of $654 million, the 14-story, 830,000-sf medical center, designed by a Perkins+Will team led by design principal Ralph Johnson, FAIA, LEED AP, is distinguished in its ability to handle disasters.
| Jan 3, 2012
BIM: not just for new buildings
Ohio State University Medical Center is converting 55 Medical Center buildings from AutoCAD to BIM to improve quality and speed of decision making related to facility use, renovations, maintenance, and more.
| Jan 3, 2012
New SJI Rule on Steel Joists
A new rule from the Steel Joist Institute clarifies when local reinforcement of joists is required for chord loads away from panel points. SJI members offer guidance about how and when to specify loads.
| Jan 3, 2012
AIA Course: New Developments in Concrete Construction
Earn 1.0 AIA/CES learning units by studying this article and successfully completing the online exam.
| Jan 3, 2012
The Value of Historic Paint Investigations
An expert conservator provides a three-step approach to determining a historic building’s “period of significance”—and how to restore its painted surfaces to the correct patterns and colors.
| Jan 3, 2012
28th Annual Reconstruction Awards: Bringing Hope to Cancer Patients
A gothic-style structure is reconstructed into comfortable, modern patient residence facility for the American Cancer Society.
| Jan 3, 2012
Art Gensler: Still Making a Difference for Clients Every Day
After running what is today the largest architecture firm in the world for more than four decades, M. Arthur Gensler, Jr., FAIA, FIIDA, RIBA, is content to be just another employee at the firm that bears his name.
