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D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4 | 93 Garry Hurvitz Brain Sciences Centre – Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre P H OTO G R A P H Y CO U RT E S Y SU N N Y B RO O K H E A LT H S C I EN C E S C EN T R E GARRY HURVITZ BRAIN SCIENCES CENTRE – SUNNYBROOK HEALTH SCIENCES CENTRE by ROBIN BRUNET T he new Garry Hurvitz Brain Sciences Centre at the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto is intended to rev- olutionize the future of brain and mental health care. Designed by HDR, Inc., it occupies 115,000 square feet of new construction and 5,000 square feet of renovated space. Upon com- pletion in the New Year, the facility will bring together interdisciplin- ary teams from across the brain sciences and mental health fields. As is the case with the best health-care designs, the three-sto- rey, above-grade building is both attractive and calming, thanks to a translucent envelope that welcomes natural light, while pro- viding privacy where required. Anton Rabindran, director of cap- ital development at Sunnybrook, says, "The project was challenging on several fronts, but the ability to move people and services out of out- dated spaces at Sunnybrook is well worth the effort, and the new build- ing makes excellent use of what used to be a grassy field sandwiched between two other buildings." According to HDR, the design team focused on three main objectives: A community face that is more than skin deep; responsive interiors for all ages; and, greatly enhanced natural light despite a tight urban footprint. To fulfill these objectives, the main entrance to the upper-level ambulatory space was designed as a light-infused, double-height lobby that separates inpatient and public flow for efficiency in care, with intuitive paths for visitors. The south-facing corridors were designed to provide expansive views from common therapeutic spaces and a seating area that overlooks the Burke Brook Ravine, intended as a place for quiet contemplation. Corridors were conceived as ther- apeutic links, infused with natural light throughout the open common areas and secured with extensive switchable glass, balancing security with a sense of openness to mitigate anxiety and create a more welcoming atmosphere. Focused, saturated colour elements juxtaposed with neutral and wood finishes combat long, grey win- ters for patients and visitors while easing orientation for older patients. The new facility was designed to accommodate future expansion verti- cally while maintaining a connection to the main hospital circulation spine. The vision was to consolidate all of the Brian Sciences Program, currently scattered through the campus, into one unified purpose-built structure, that is connected to the remainder of the campus for continuum of care. While the design process went rela- tively smoothly, Rabindran points out that obtaining regulatory approvals preceding construction took lon- ger than expected, creating a delay in the construction start. "But we're used to paperwork, and everything was resolved satisfactorily," he says. Maystar broke ground at the site in November 2020, excavat- ing to the depth for a double-storey basement and uncovering pipes both active and abandoned – which necessitated design changes in the shoring system. "We installed tem- porary caissons around the site," says Siva Nallaiah, senior project man- ager at Maystar. "The foundations were mainly reinforced concrete structural footings and columns." Maystar also had to retain Enbridge to reroute a major gas line supplying all of Sunnybrook away from the construction site, "And the redesign and installation of this new system added another few months to our schedule," Nallaiah says. The cast-in-place Hurvitz Centre was built with resiliency and patient safety in mind, "Hence all windows were reinforced with steel frames so they wouldn't pop out, and inte- rior hardware such as doorknobs and handles that have to either col- lapse or slip so nobody could hurt themselves," Nallaiah says. Although the quantity of change orders were fairly extensive, Rabindran notes with some satis- faction that "we are doing well with regards to contingency usage." As the Hurvitz Centre nears com- pletion, Rabindran credits scrupulous planning for a good portion of the project's success. "It enabled us to endure union strikes and delivery delays due to COVID; it also helped that when we ordered materials and systems such as the air handling units early and utilized two storage spaces on campus. "This is a prime example of an important health-care facility com- ing to life thanks to the leadership of a generous donor, the insight- ful design input from clinicians, patients, and families, along with architects and trades working at the top of their game. We're very excited with the end result." A LOCATION 2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, Ontario OWNER /DEVELOPER Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre ARCHITECT HDR, Inc. GENER AL CONTR ACTOR Maystar STRUCTUR AL CONSULTANT EXP MECHANICAL /ELECTRICAL CONSULTANT H.H. Angus and Associates Ltd. CIVIL CONSULTANT WSP Canada TOTAL SIZE 115,000 square feet (new build plus 5,000 square feet renovation) TOTAL COST $101 million

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