TBRHSC Breaks Ground on New Health Services Centre Thunder Bay
by Scott A. Sumner
To mark the official groundbreaking at the future site of a new health services centre on Oliver Road, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre’s President and CEO Andrée Robichaud, City Councilor Iain Angus, and Tom Jones Jr. of Tom Jones and Sons put their shovels to the ground today. “As we continue to put the patients of Northwestern Ontario and their families at the centre of everything we do, we see the advantages of expanding our capacity in order for us to help our patients become healthy together,” said Andrée Robichaud, TBRHSC President and CEO. After a competitive, transparent procurement process, TBRHSC is working once again with Tom Jones Corporation and FORM Architecture Engineering to construct the new facility. Tom Jones Jr. said he is looking forward to building on the success of the Medical Centre at 984 Oliver Road. “The new building represents a tremendous opportunity for the Health Sciences Centre to expand its services, as well as an opportunity for commercial expansion, such as physicians’ offices and a pharmacy,” said Jones. The existing Medical Centre is home to many of the Health Sciences Centre’s essential programs and services including the Bariatric Care Program, Internal Medicine Clinic, Regional Stroke Program, Stroke Prevention Clinic, the Maternity Centre and Tamarack House, a home away from home for cancer patients from as far away as White River or the Manitoba border. “Providing the right care at the right time in the right place is not only more appropriate for patients and families; it is more cost-effective,” said Robichaud. “The new health services centre will further expand the range of programs and services available to patients and families, including Cardiac Services, conveniently close to the Health Sciences Centre.”
The new 75,000 square foot facility provides even more space for TBRHSC programs and services and regional partners in health, and also offers opportunities in both the public and private sectors. “The delivery of healthcare needs to takes place within healthy environments, and we are proud to be part of the team building such an environment,” said Cory Stechyshyn, Architect and partner with FORM Architecture Engineering.
Stechyshyn discussed the environmental and sustainability features of the new building, that include maximizing the southern exposure for winter solar heat gain and maximizing natural daylight throughout the year.
City of Thunder Bay Councilor Iain Angus also welcomed the announcement of a new health services facility, particularly in light of the Health Sciences Centre’s Strategic Plan and guiding principle of Patient and Family Centred Care. “I congratulate the TBRHSC and its partners on their next stage of expansion which demonstrates their commitment to delivering high quality healthcare to patients and their families in Northwestern Ontario.”
Andree Robichaud, TBRHSC President & CEO “ It really demonstrates that we are making progress on our journey to become an academic health sciences centre because some of our expansion is to do with NOSM and Lakehead University. Cardiac Services out patient basis may be moved here to save our space in the main building for acute care.”
Scott Potts of TBRHSC administration “ We anticipate about 15,000 to 25,000 square feet from our site coming to this building. We have great interest from other tenants to locate in this building as well. There is synergy being located here rather than somewhere else.”
Tom Jones Jr, Manager of Tom Jones and Sons Limited. “ We will look after the development, are property managers and will be shareholders in this new building along with the hospital and others. This will be at least a $15 million project. We are looking at different family health teams and new recruits to Thunder Bay. In the other building on site we manage there is currently only 1500 square feet available out of 72,000 square feet so there has been a strong demand. It will be early 2014 when we are ready for occupancy. It will be likely 3 or 4 years before we get the building fully leased. We are making a large commitment and see the the growth in the hospital.”
Cory Stechyshyn Partner and Architect with Form. “ It is unique in how they brought the team together to build this building and an exciting addition to the health care campus. The building will be a healthy environment that is energy efficient. We hope to high lite that with this building.”
