While the Critical Care Tower isn’t actually a tower, it will bring significant improvements to the SMH campus. The 274,000 sq. ft. building will add a total of 151 new beds. The emergency department will be five times as large as the existing facility and include specialized mental health and geriatric units. There will also be a separate children’s ER, an enhanced minor treatment unit, and an improved acute care ward. In addition, a new perinatal centre, with 48 neonatal intensive care unit beds, will help to treat premature infants. Finally, the Tower will include a rooftop helipad.
Three teams have been shortlisted to design, build, finance, and maintain the $600 million project:
- BC Healthcare Solutions
- ISL Health
- Integrated Team Solutions
The finalist will be chosen in 2010. The new emergency department is scheduled to open in 2013, with the rest of the Critical Care Tower by 2014.
