MILTON, Ont. — Toronto-based PCL Constructors Canada Inc. recently announced the final phase of the Milton District Hospital (MDH) project expansion in December 2017, signifying the project’s completion. The $512 million expansion began June 2015 and achieved substantial completion in April 2017, with Halton Healthcare providing patient care in the new space as early as Oct. 1, 2017.

A major challenge was allowing the remaining MDH to continue to serve the community during construction, which was key to the success of the expansion. It was built to meet the increasing care needs of one of Canada’s fastest growing communities and to accommodate new technology. PCL Toronto District Manager Kelly Wallace explained how the efficiency of this project demonstrates exemplary collaborative success, according to a statement.

“Milton District Hospital expansion project is a case study for design-build excellence,” said Wallace. “Achieving total completion within seven months of substantial completion on a project of this scope speaks volumes about the collaboration and respect exhibited by all partners, which was a critical success factor in achieving this tremendous outcome for the people of Milton.”

With an air-tight, 25-month design-build schedule executed on an active hospital site, more than 40 PCLers influenced an outstanding safety culture that sent more than 600 tradespeople home safely every day, with more than 1.2 million hours worked without a lost time injury (LTI).

The MDH project brings expanded emergency and surgical services, medical/surgical inpatient units, critical care, maternal newborn and diagnostic imaging, and support services to the community. The hospital’s capacity increased from 63 to 129 inpatient beds, including 80 percent single-patient rooms for improved infection prevention and control and increased patient privacy in a quieter healing environment. A level 2A Special Care Nursery with capacity for eight bassinets in the Maternal Newborn Unit is included as well as the hospital’s first Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine.

With these additions, patients will have increased access to healthcare services, with a unit layout that puts equipment, supplies and staff closer to the patient, enabling more direct care time with patients. MDH facilities will also encourage the participation of family and friends, including pull-out sleeper beds inside patient rooms to allow a family member to stay overnight with their loved one, along with available room-service delivery on most inpatient units that enables patients to order meals by telephone from their hospital room.

The expansion comes along with the implementation of new technological systems, including an electronic patient tracking system to manage each patient’s records from the moment they arrive as well as wireless handheld devices that allow staff to communicate with both systems and people. The hospital will now use reliable networks to support clinical, communications, security, environmental, building and back office systems. The hospital is pursuing its LEED Silver certification with a sustainable building strategy, holding a mechanical design of the hospital optimizes energy usage by incorporating energy-efficient design and maximizing equipment efficiency.

Key partners of the project included Halton Healthcare (owner); Plenary Group (project sponsor, equity investor, financial arranger); PCL Constructors Canada Inc. (design-builder; Toronto); Johnson Controls (facilities manager); B+H Architects and RTKL Associates (architect); Smith and Andersen (mechanical/electrical consultant); and WSP (structural consultant). MDH was constructed using Infrastructure Ontario’s Alternative Financing and Procurement model.

“Reaching final completion demonstrates another significant milestone for the Milton District Hospital project. Plenary remains incredibly proud of the collaborative working relationship we have with all the project partners, and we look forward to participating in the ongoing success of this facility,” said Angela Clayton, Plenary’s group head, Buildings Division, according to a statement.

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MILTON, Ontario — The Milton District Hospital in Milton, Ontario opened doors to its new expansion on Oct. 1. The expansion offers an additional 330,000 square feet of new health care space to a community that continues to expand. The new space is projected to achieve LEED Gold status for its energy efficient-design.

Stantec Architecture, based out of New York, was the planning, design and compliance architect for the expansion. B+H Architects in Toronto, Ontario in collaboration with Baltimore-headquartered RTKL Architects served as the architects of record on the project.

The expansion features large windows and skylights that allow sunlight to pour into hospital hallways and rooms, creating a warm and homey environment for local residents coping with healthcare challenges, in addition to reducing energy costs for light and heating. Lush landscaping and courtyards are found outside many of the windows and the day surgery terrace, with the greenery continuing on the top of the building in the form of a green roof. Portions of the roofs are covered in plants and are visible from patient rooms. Stormwater is absorbed and used by the plants on the roof, as an alternative to a more traditional stormwater management system. Additionally, the green roof creates a cooling effect for the building.

The main lobby in the expansion features two-story windows, an automated donor wall, sitting area and cafeteria-style seating for those grabbing a bite to eat. To the right of the main entrance is the hospital’s new imaging department, including Milton’s first MRI scanner and fracture clinic. The expansion includes an emergency room that is three times the size of the previous and will have a capacity to serve 45,000 patients each year.

Located near the MRI area is a larger maternity department that includes everything from an early labor lounge to a Level 2A special care nursery for babies who need extra support and monitoring after birth. With specially chosen soft colors, large windows letting in plenty of natural light and local nature photos on the walls, the new nursery strives to be a homey place for new moms, babies and their families. Nine new labor, birth, recovery and post-partum (LBRP) rooms have been added to the expansion. In addition, the expansion features an operating suite dedicated to planned and emergency C-section deliveries in the maternity department, along with an associated recovery room.

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