Infrastructure Ontario has announced plans to move forward with the redevelopment of a new construction project at St. Michael's Hospital downtown. Diamond and Schmitt Architects Inc. have been selected as the planning, design and compliance (PDC) team, a critical position in advancing the project.

St. Michael's Patient Care Tower rendering, image courtesy of Diamond + Schmitt

The largest and most visible portion of the project will be the new 17-storey patient care tower at the corner of Victoria and Queen. In addition to the new tower, the redevelopment will renovate approximately 150,000 square feet of existing space — a much-needed upgrade to the hospital — relocating patient beds from the 85-year-old wing.

Lobby at Queen and Victoria, image courtesy of Diamond and Schmitt

St. Michael's was originally founded in 1892 to assist the poor and destitute citizens of Toronto's downtown core. While today it serves a diverse array of patients, from both Toronto and far-reaching regions, its infrastructure has yet to catch up; he hospital's emergency department serves 70,000 partients a year yet is only equiped to serve 45,000.

Sky lobby at St. Michaels, image courtesy of Diamond and Schmitt

The redevelopment will include five new state-of-the-art operating rooms, able to fit the latest medical imaging equipment. It will also focus on expanding the hospital's internationally-regarded adult cystic fibrosis clinic, and bettering its trauma care unit. Dr. Robert Howard, the CEO of St. Michael's states:

"The new patient care tower and renovation projects will ensure that St. Michael's staff and physicians are able to provide the excellent quality of care that is our hallmark, within a state-of-the-art facility that includes the latest advances in technology and lifesaving equipment."

Infrastructure Ontario and the hospital will employ the Alternative Financing and Procurement model, wherein all risks related to design, construction and financing are transferred to the private sector. This will ensure the hospital remains publicly owned, controlled and accountable, without being financially at-risk during the redevelopment process. UrbanToronto has maintained a dataBase listing for the project, where you can find renderings and information, as well as a link to the associated project thread in the Forum.

Related Companies:  Diamond Schmitt Architects, entro, LiveRoof Ontario Inc, NORR Architects & Engineers Limited, Priestly Demolition Inc.