Joseph Brant Hospital, Burlington, Ontario

The Joseph Brant Hospital (JBH) redevelopment involved the construction of a new 7-storey, 400,000 sf, 172-bed patient care tower and 120,000 sf of renovations to the existing buildings.

This LEED Silver accredited project provides within the new patient care tower, three floors of medical surgical inpatient units, intensive care, surgical services programs including ambulatory procedures, medical daycare/oncology program, emergency department, laboratories, a new front entrance and other public amenities. Renovations of clinical departments include diagnostic imaging, ambulatory care clinics, level 2B nursery, pediatric and post-partum inpatient units.

The site organization and built form of this redevelopment acknowledges the hospital’s location adjacent to Lake Ontario in the heart of Burlington’s important waterfront area. The hospital reinforces and defines the positive aspects of this development through a new orientation with a new front entrance and lobby while still connecting to the existing hospital and its former front lobby in a logical and obvious way. The redeveloped facility creates a welcoming sense of arrival with spectacular views to Lake Ontario, taking full advantage of the site. The transparency of the new eastern and southern facades inform the public, patients, families and staff that the hospital is a welcoming and inclusive facility. The interiors, beginning upon entry to the main lobby, consist of a two-story space is enlivened with daylight and is visually connected with a pedestrian bridge access from the existing parking structure at the upper lobby. This upper lobby accommodates public amenities such as the cafeteria, retail spaces, spiritual care, and a link to the existing hospital entrance.The existing hospital is operational 24/7 and therefore thoughtful consideration was given to the phasing of this project through both new construction and renovations. A substantive addition and interior alterations to a fully functional hospital had to be executed with minimal disruptions to its operations. Detailed phasing/decanting/commissioning plan was developed to manage access to the existing hospital’s internal spaces during construction and demolition.