New Stantec-designed hospital opens its doors to support Ontario’s pandemic response

Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital, designed by Stantec, has officially opened its doors to support Ontario’s COVID-19 pandemic response. The hospital, the first net new hospital to be built in Ontario in more than 30 years, will temporarily serve as a system-wide resource for the province’s pandemic response. Once the system stabilizes, it will open as originally planned as a full-service hospital.

Leading global design firm Stantec—as part of the Plenary Health team with design-builder PCL Constructors Canada Inc.—provided architectural, interior design, transportation, and landscape architectural design services for the new hospital. Zeidler served as the planning, design, and compliance consultant on the project.

“We’re proud to have led the design for Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital, which will be instrumental in helping to end hallway medicine as well as the fight against COVID-19 in Ontario,” says George Bitsakakis, Stantec’s project director on the hospital. “We worked hard to create spaces that support and enable modern healthcare delivery and establish a positive environment for the staff that work there. Our integrated team of experts from our Toronto, Calgary, and Philadelphia offices designed the facility to optimize the use of natural light while integrating some of the most intelligent technology in today’s healthcare industry.”

As Mackenzie Health’s second hospital, Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital will initially open a total of 185 beds to support patients from Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital and other Ontario hospitals experiencing capacity pressures as a result of the surge in critical and acute care volumes. Once the health system has stabilized, the 11-storey, 1.2 million square-foot facility will fully open to provide care and services to patients from across western York Region.

The new hospital promotes an environment of health and wellness in all aspects of the design. Patients, families, and caregivers will benefit from the calming clinical and public spaces, as well as access to several landscaped courtyards and terraces. The buildings that make up the facility are integrated into the community, with therapeutic walking and bike paths and green spaces for residents.

Once the surge has been adequately addressed and Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital opens fully, it will increase Mackenzie Health’s urgent and emergent care capacity while providing advanced diagnostic imaging and enhanced programs in obstetrics, pediatrics, and mental health. The facility features fully integrated systems and medical technology that directly share information with health professionals to improve patient care.

“Opening our second hospital would not have been possible without hard-working individuals including our partners in the project consortium made up of our architects, construction crews, project consultants, vendors and government along with the incredible support of our community members,” said Altaf Stationwala, President and CEO of Mackenzie Health. “Collaborative partnerships like the one we have with Stantec meant that the hospital was designed with patients in mind allowing our team at Mackenzie Health to focus on providing the best possible patient care.”

Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital marks one of several major healthcare projects Stantec has helped deliver in Ontario in the past year. Combined, the firm has supported the addition of 730 new beds and more than 2.3 million square feet of clinical space within the province. Other recent projects include Cambridge Memorial Hospital, Brockville General Hospital’s Phase II Redevelopment Project, and the opening of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health’s two new buildings. With the completion of Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital, Stantec continues to advance its vision of enhancing health worldwide through the power of design while increasing access to critical health services for everyone in the province.

About Mackenzie Health
Mackenzie Health is a dynamic regional health care provider which includes Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital, Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital and a comprehensive network of community-based services. In March 2017, the organization received its second consecutive award of Accreditation with Exemplary Standing from Accreditation Canada for its commitment to safety and quality patient care. This is the highest rating a Canadian health care provider can receive. Guided by a vision to create the ultimate health care experience, Mackenzie Health has an unrelenting focus on the patient and is dedicated to patient needs now and in the future. With more than 550,000 residents in western York Region, Mackenzie Health is proud to serve one of the fastest growing and most diverse communities in Canada. For more information, please visit mackenziehealth.ca.

About Stantec
Communities are fundamental. Whether around the corner or across the globe, they provide a foundation, a sense of place and of belonging. That's why at Stantec, we always design with community in mind.

We care about the communities we serve—because they're our communities too. This allows us to assess what's needed and connect our expertise, to appreciate nuances and envision what's never been considered, to bring together diverse perspectives so we can collaborate toward a shared success.

We're designers, engineers, scientists, and project managers, innovating together at the intersection of community, creativity, and client relationships. Balancing these priorities results in projects that advance the quality of life in communities across the globe.

Stantec trades on the TSX and the NYSE under the symbol STN. 

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Stantec Media Relations                                               
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