Engineering Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada - WSP

30-year collaboration propels care and research facilities to new heights.

First hired by Canada’s “The Hospital for Sick Children” in 1985, our engineers have worked with this world-renowned centre for paediatric care for more than 30 years.

Location

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Client

The Hospital for Sick Children

Project Status

On-going

Ingénierie de The Hospital for Sick Children - Vue extérieure

The initial $200m project, which saw construction of a new inpatient tower and a master plan for redevelopment of the older part of the hospital (annex buildings), laid the ground for an enduring relationship. We have since worked with them to deliver the state-of-the-art Cardiac Diagnostic Intervention Unit, magnetic resonance imaging facilities , computerised genomics laboratory space and providing civil and building science services on a major research laboratory occupying over a third of the hospital building area.

Ongoing 30 year relationship with hospital

Specialist Design

In contributing to projects that have expanded the capacity of the hospital, our teams have taken on tasks from operating room and central plant upgrades to the synchronisation of generators across three different buildings in order to boost available emergency power.

Over the years, we have worked closely with architects, interior designers and client advocates to understand the complex requirements of a facility that cares for newborns and teenagers alike. Specialist design needs range from tamper-resistant lighting and covered emergency buttons (less tempting for little hands to press than the standard red ones) to child-adapted CT scanners and soothing lighting systems. In addition, the hospital has to cater not just for patients but also their families, and environments that minimise stress are crucial.

Ingénierie de The Hospital for Sick Children - Vue intérieure

Ingénierie de The Hospital for Sick Children - Vue extérieure nocturne de la tour

Challenging Construction

The construction process has at times also proved complicated. One major challenge was the phased renovation of a 1,394 m² emergency department in 2009. Our team ensured this critical facility stayed operational throughout, overseeing complex coordination of mechanical and electrical services through three phases of construction as well as incorporating plans for a future diagnostic imaging department into the building services design. The project also included 28 new examination rooms and five isolation units as well as other procedural rooms and administrative space.