When Health Comes First

West Coast General Hospital, Port Alberni, BC West Coast General Hospital, Port Alberni, BC

In making the choice between renovating an aging hospital and building a new facility, the ongoing care of the area's community was the primary factor. Keeping the old facility operational while a new one was being built was the only solution.

The Vancouver Health Authority was in a quandary. Port Alberni's old 5-storey General Hospital building had become outdated. It no longer met the seismic code requirements for its high seismic zone and needed a retrofit. Furthermore, with its small floor plates it had become operationally inefficient. Major renovations were clearly in order but, as the primary medical service provider for a large area, the hospital had to remain operational at all times.

The solution was straightforward: build a new facility on a new and separate site: a state-of-the art 52 bed hospital that includes emergency, diagnostic, ambulatory and in-patient care departments.

The consulting team's design of a one and two storey structure with large floor plates provided greater planning flexibility and operational efficiencies. A light, large span steel roof structure resulted in low seismic forces and allowed for large spaces for future flexibility. By using ductile-braced frames, we provided seismic resistance and minimized the seismic forces on the foundation.

Single and double rooms all have views of the surrounding gardens and woodlands while departments and services are arranged around a central enclosed courtyard, a tranquil inner "healing" garden. Thoughtfully chosen seating pieces and arrangements amid lush plantings under a glass sky dome provide a pleasing and relaxing atmosphere for visitors and for outpatients awaiting treatment.

The residents of the area welcomed the opening of the new facility certain that their health care was never compromised.

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Architect: CJP Architects
Owner: Vancouver Island Health Authority