Sustainably Engineered Hospital

When the need for a regional cancer-care facility became critical, provincial health authorities agreed to build a new state-of-the art full-service hospital with an integrated cancer treatment centre as a public-private partnership.

RJC developed a flexible and adaptable plan to meet the project's aggressive scheduling and budgetary constraints. We worked consultatively with owners and stakeholders to set and achieve a LEED® Gold certification for the building.

The new hospital is three times the size of the original facility. How did we do it? We designed a large (9.6m x 9.6m) structural grid to allow for great flexibility in the hospital’s space planning. A flat slab with drop panel concrete structure minimized structural depth, and maximized ceiling spaces for mechanical and electrical services, resulting in an efficient, flexible low-cost structure.

By using locally produced concrete as our main structural material, we significantly reduced the environmental impact of transportation. Since cement production is energy intensive and emits high levels of greenhouse gases, we further reduced the eco-footprint of the concrete by using high-volume fly ash, a waste product of the coal industry, to partially replace the cement in the concrete.

To deal with the scheduling challenge presented by using reduced-cement concrete, which needs a longer setting time, we provided an innovative solution that allowed the formwork to be stripped at a lower early strength without affecting the construction schedule.

Using Forest Stewardship Certified (FSC) plywood for the formwork on the project at minimal additional cost, also contributed to the sustainablity goals of the project.

This healthy construction solution resulted in a specialized cancer treatment facility design that inspires caring and promotes patient health.