The Plenary Health-led $723 million project is set to construct a state-of-the-art, seven-storey, 600,000 square-foot hospital in Western Newfoundland. This hospital will be connected to the 145-bed long-term care facility currently being built on the same site. The new hospital will house 164 beds, with services identical to those currently provided by the Western Memorial Regional Hospital. The cancer care program will be expanded to include radiation services, a welcome development for the local population.
The design of the hospital has been inspired by the regional geology and vernacular architecture of Western Newfoundland, creating an architectural design that is grounded in the characteristics of the surrounding environment. The building’s primary volumes are shaped to mirror the layered, rolling landforms of the region.
One of the key design features of the hospital is the maximization of daylight and views, resulting in highly transparent public areas that welcome visitors during the day and become glowing destinations by night. The tall windows in the key clinical departments on Level 0 align with patient therapy bays, framing west-facing views out into the therapy gardens, city and valley beyond. The windows on Level 1 of the podium have been designed to allow views in and out of the facility, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.
The hospital’s design also features an effective horizontal and vertical circulation system, clinical adjacencies, segregation of flow, integration of building systems, optimized sightlines and intuitive wayfinding. This compact and functional design minimizes distances for clinicians, nurses, and housekeeping staff, allowing them to spend more time caring for patients.
As part of the hospital’s commitment to delivering value-added design features, a geothermal heating and cooling system is provided as the primary heating and cooling source for the facility. This system, while at a higher capital cost, significantly reduces the hospital’s electrical consumption and demand, resulting in significant financial savings over the life of the building.
During the construction of the hospital, an estimated 4,000 person-years of employment and $460 million in GDP are expected to be generated, contributing significantly to the local economy.