North America’s first all mass timber acute care hospital breaks ground

What’s expected to be the first all mass timber acute care hospital in North America has broken ground. The 97,000-sf Quinte Health Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital will be located in Picton, Ontario, Canada, with completion anticipated for 2027.

Designed by HDR and constructed by M. Sullivan & Son, the mass timber structure integrates sustainable building practices with advanced medical technology. According to HDR, unencapsulated mass timber sequesters carbon better than any other structural material.

“It’s about balancing environmental and social sustainability in the sense that mass timber in healthcare is at once about human comfort and environmental stewardship,” Jason-Emery Groen, design principal at HDR, said in a statement.

To optimize energy use and reduce the carbon footprint, the design incorporates natural light, energy-efficient windows, and sustainable materials throughout, including the structure.

The sustainable infrastructure includes a high-performance building envelope, geothermal energy exchange, building-integrated photovoltaics, EV-ready parking, indigenous landscaping, composite wood cladding, and green roofs. The building will be ready for future electrification and net-zero carbon status.

In line with biophilic principles, the design offers access to nature throughout the facility. Patients and families can access a public garden at the core of the project, while an off-stage garden offers staff opportunities for respite and privacy.

The hospital’s enhanced clinical capabilities will include 23 inpatient beds, an emergency department, diagnostic imaging, procedures, and comprehensive ambulatory care services.

“The new Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital is more than a modern healthcare facility—it’s a reflection of the remarkable pride this community has in its hometown hospital spanning more than a century,” Stacey Daub, president and CEO, Quinte Health, said in a statement. “Transitioning from an older outdated building to an innovative, all-mass timber structure allows Quinte Health to meet the latest standards in healthcare and provide a safer, more resilient space that serves both our community and the thousands of visitors drawn to the beautiful region each year.”

The new Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital will be adjacent to the existing hospital, which will remain operational during construction.