Award

M A R C H 2 0 2 2 | 75 Peace Arch Hospital Renewal Project P H OTO G R A P H Y BY M I C H A EL EL K A N /CO U RT E S Y K A S I A N A RC H I T EC T U R E PEACE ARCH HOSPITAL RENEWAL PROJECT by ROBIN BRUNET I f a book is ever written about the challenges of hospital develop- ment, the Peace Arch Hospital (PAH) renewal project may get its own chapter. Sarah Thorn, senior proj- ect manager for the Fraser Health Authority, explains, "Everything was thrown at us, from the usual funding challenges to COVID, and yet we pre- vailed successfully." The completed first phase of the project consists of an expanded emer- gency department with double the number of treatment spaces, and a new surgical suite with two additional operating rooms. Also, the medical device reprocessing department has been expanded and moved closer to the surgical suite. Renovations continue to parts of the former emergency depart- ment, to accommodate a new dedicated mental-health and sub- stance-use unit that is expected to be operational later this year. Kasian Architecture submitted a master concept plan draft for PAH in April of 2012, spurred by projec- tions of regional population growth that would require greater health- care capacity. "This plan evolved, and while a great deal of our work revolved around programming, we were always mindful to create a facility that visually complemented the surround- ing residential neighbourhood," says Kasian principal Golnaz Rakhshan. Kasian strives to design hospitals that have a non-institutional visual appeal, and at PAH this was accom- plished partly by creating a grand entrance canopy with glulam columns. "We also maximized the use of glazing in this area and for the upper level staff lounge," Rakhshan says, adding that board form concrete and a treated wood panelling as cladding contributed to the building's welcoming appearance both at the northern front entrance and the southern staff entrance. As for the interior, Macy Koocheck, Kasian's interior design lead, points out that a major issue for hospitals is hallway clutter due to lack of storage spaces: "So planning the interiors with designated spaces for optimum flow was our number one consideration." Logan Huard, senior project man- ager at Wright Construction Western Inc., says of his company's joint ven- ture work with Smith Bros. & Wilson (BC) Ltd., "The new building had to be physically connected to the exist- ing hospital and seamlessly integrated. After performing remediation on the site we commenced construction in January of 2019, and in order to main- tain strict infection control measures we communicated our work plans with Fraser Health as frequently as every hour. It was also vital that hospital activity not be disturbed in any way: no vibrations allowed when eye sur- geries were conducted, for example." Since the new facility was located between the existing hospital and a standalone maternity ward, free space was at a premium – so Smith Bros. and Wright Construction co-ordinated just-in-time deliveries. "Also, materi- als that were stored at a small laydown site were subject to testing to ensure they could safely be installed in the hospital interior," Huard says. COVID reduced the work crew from more than 130 to approximately 70 and subsequently resulted in mate- rial delivery delays. Thorn recalls, "At one point we couldn't even get bleach for the jobsite, so I spent one evening scouring retail outlets, picking up as much as I could and not knowing if this was the end of supplies for the construction crews or not." Also during this time, the own- ers and Kasian adjusted their design to accommodate three anterooms for COVID patients. "COVID inspired us to see how we could make hospitals more resilient during pandemics, and this was the outcome," says Koocheck. "It required demolition of some of the new framing." Thorn adds, "This was a $1.5-mil- lion change order and added eight weeks to the schedule – but the archi- tects and engineers made it work." Fate delivered yet another chal- lenge towards the end of construction. "The floods wiped out the Coquihalla Highway and delayed the delivery of all of our handrails and bumper rails," Huard says. "Still, we were able to meet our January 8 turnover date." Now, as work commences on renovating the hospital's original emergency department, Thorn looks back on what has been accomplished and remarks, "Kasian has amaz- ing architects, and I'm grateful for all of the trades bulldogging forward regardless of the hurdles. The new Peace Arch Hospital accommodates South Surrey/ White Rock's growing population, and we're proud of every- one involved in this project." A LOCATION 15521 Russell Avenue, White Rock, B.C. OWNER /DEVELOPER Fraser Health Authority ARCHITECT Kasian Architecture GENER AL CONTR ACTOR SBW-WRIGHT (JV) STRUCTUR AL CONSULTANT Weiler Smith Bowers (WSB) MECHANICAL /ELECTRICAL CONSULTANT WSP CIVIL CONSULTANT Aplin Martin TOTAL SIZE 26,156 square feet TOTAL COST $68.2 million

• Cover
• Contents