green timbers
Tour the new SMH Outpatient Centre May 30th!
May 24, 2011 | Paul HillsdonTo celebrate the impending official opening of the new Jim Pattison Outpatient Care and Surgery Centre, the first major expansion of health services in Surrey since 2001, Fraser Health is inviting the public to a free tour of the state-of-the-art … Read More
New RCMP HQ well underway [pics]
March 14, 2011 | Paul HillsdonConstruction on the new E-Division headquarters for the RCMP in Green Timbers is well underway. Take a look!
Why nobody dare walk in Surrey City Centre
September 23, 2010 | Paul HillsdonWith work winding down on the Surrey Outpatient Hospital, set to open next summer, and construction just beginning on the RCMP E-Division Headquarters, Green Timbers is set to become a major regional destination for both residents and workers. Although … Read More
Exclusive: Sneak peek at the Surrey Outpatient Hospital
August 23, 2010 | Paul Hillsdon
The first and second floors
Civic Surrey was invited to the installation of the new wide MRI machine at the Surrey Outpatient Hospital and was fortunate enough to also receive a short site tour of the building’s interior. Thanks to Angela in Media Relations, Adele with Bouygues Building Canada, and Barry our tour guide, for the opportunity!
The Surrey Outpatient Hospital is a state of the art facility that will relieve congestion at Surrey Memorial. Outpatients are those who do not need to stay overnight at the hospital. SMH currently handles 134,000 outpatient clinic visits and 94,000 outpatient diagnostic procedures per year – most of which will transfer to the new facility. A majority of patients using the facility don’t have a family doctor; following their admittance, they will be encouraged to seek a general practitioner, which is also expected to reduce demand for small injuries at the SMH ER.
The LEED Gold Building was designed by Kasian Architecture, the same firm behind the new City Hall. The design was intended to be a culturally sensitive and welcoming space for all. Wayfinding focused on using colours and art to distinguish each floor, allowing those with poor or no English skills to still orient themselves in the building. Each floor roughly reflects the levels of a tree, mirroring the Hospital’s Green Timbers surroundings – the first floor is brown for a tree trunk, the second is tree branches, the third is leaves, and the fourth is blossoms.
The space was designed to optimize natural light and views. The main corridor of the Hospital fronts onto Green Timbers, providing relaxing views of nature. The outdoor section of the Hospital will include a modern, natural rock plaza, as well as green gardens for patients. There will also be a non-denominational sacred space provided for all faiths.
The main atrium will include retail space for a pharmacy and café, as well as education and meeting space. Most of the parking is underground, with over 600 spaces, although there will also be a small surface lot. The building used recycled pine beetle wood throughout. The facility is ahead of schedule, providing Fraser Health with several months of buffer to test all the machinery and equipment prior to its grand opening in June 2011.
Click on through for more info and the photo tour!
RCMP E-Division HQ breaks ground [pics]
May 12, 2010 | Paul Hillsdon
The new E-Divison headquarters of the RCMP in British Columbia has broken ground on its Green Timbers site. The 76,000 sq. metre facility is scheduled for completion in 2013 at a cost of $996 million. It will house 2,700 workers under one roof – employees are currently scattered around 25 various sites in the Metro region.
The project begins as new reports have surfaced showing the growing unrest and frustrations of officers under the federal police force. A staff survey has revealed that nearly 60% of all cops have considered quitting the RCMP in the last year. In addition, approximatively 40% would not recommend joining the force.
These striking numbers come on the heels of calls for either a regional or provincial police force to replace the seemingly corrupt and incompetent RCMP. On again, off again Solicitor General Kash Heed is a recognized proponent of a regional force. Ontario, Quebec, and Newfoundland all have their own provincial police forces, while Toronto and York Region are two examples of regional forces. The RCMP’s province-wide contract expires in 2012, leaving open the possibility for its replacement. It is unknown what would happen to this new facility if that were to occur.
More renderings after the jump.
RCMP E-Division facility moves forward
March 25, 2010 | Paul HillsdonThe City has just approved a development permit for the construction of the RCMP’s new E-Division headquarters at 140 St and Fraser Hwy, adjacent to Green Timbers and the Surrey Outpatient Hospital. The Green Timbers Accomodation Partnership won the P3 … Read More
Major road projects in next few years
February 4, 2010 | Paul HillsdonThe Surrey Engineering Department has released their 10 Year Servicing Plan (2010-2019). Included below is a Google map of the major road expansion projects to be completed in the short term (1-3 years). New roads are in orange, while widened … Read More
