Fraser Health and EllisDon have signed a design build agreement for phase two and a construction management agreement for phase three of the Royal Columbian Hospital redevelopment project.

“This next important step in the redevelopment project ensures that the region’s fast-growing population is closer to accessing an expanded and upgraded Royal Columbian Hospital,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. “The hospital is the oldest and one of the busiest in B.C., and our government is committed to making sure people can access the health-care services they need in a state-of-the-art facility.”

Design, geotechnical work, pre-construction work and abatement work in preparation for the demolition of several older hospital buildings at the site is underway at Royal Columbian Hospital. Excavation will begin for an interim support building that will house the hospital’s support services during construction, with excavation for a new acute care tower to begin in early 2021. Phase two construction is expected to complete in early 2025.

The Royal Columbian Hospital redevelopment is a multi-year project occurring in three phases which will transform almost every part of the hospital.

Phase one delivered a new 75-bed Mental Health and Substance Use Wellness Centre which opened in summer 2020, and prepared the hospital’s infrastructure for the expansion in bed capacity coming in phase two.

Phase two will create a new acute care tower with more beds for intensive care, cardiac intensive care, medicine and surgical patients, with most in single-patient private rooms. There will also be a new, larger emergency department with a medical imaging unit. In addition, phase two will provide more maternity beds and maternity operating rooms. The new acute care tower also includes a two-level underground parkade, a new main entrance and a rooftop helipad.

Phase three of the redevelopment project will upgrade and expand areas in the existing Health Care Centre and Columbia tower to support the beds and services added in phase two. Phase three is projected to start in 2023 and complete in 2026.

By the end of the redevelopment project, the hospital will have added 50 per cent more beds to 675 from 446.