Award

June 2025

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J U N E 2 0 2 5 | 77 Mental Wellness Project – Whitehorse General Hospital R EN D ER I N GS CO U RT E S Y T H I N K S PAC E A RC H I T EC T U R E P L A N N I N G I N T ER I O R D E S I G N LT D. MENTAL WELLNESS PROJECT – WHITEHORSE GENERAL HOSPITAL by JESSSICA KIRBY A new mental health unit addressing the evolving men- tal health needs of Yukon's population will change the health and wellness landscape in this community forever. Besides increasing capacity to deliver quality health care, it raises the bar on developing culturally sig- nificant and respectful spaces where individuals can heal on multiple levels. The project involved the construc- tion and renovation of approximately 1,150 square metres of programmed space above an existing emergency department. The unit includes a 12-bed secure medical unit within the existing level two shelled space and seismically isolated addition with out- door program space for mental health. "The existing secure medical unit [SMU] at Whitehorse General Hospital has served its purpose but was not specifically designed for mental health care," says Karen Girling, director of projects for Yukon Hospitals. "The intention is to return the existing SMU back into eight in-patient beds to sup- port medical and surgical care. The new unit will significantly enhance mental health care in the Yukon, pro- viding numerous benefits." The design inspiration for the proj- ect was based on Yukon Hospitals' vision to aid the process of men- tal health healing. "The design is intended to create an environment that can foster the service delivery model, improve patient outcomes, and provide a balance between a person's mental, physical, spiri- tual, and emotional well-being," says Todd Dust, principal and archi- tect with Thinkspace Architecture Planning Interior Design Ltd. The design elements are robust and focus on a number of objectives, including improving the recogni- tion and respect of First Nations needs and culture, significantly reducing the risk to inpatients and staff, pro- viding on-site space for activities and services, and be person-cen- tric and culturally responsive. "To provide culturally appropriate care and develop a space that is wel- coming and non-institutional in feel and appearance, the integration of Indigenous design considerations is explored through interior and exterior design elements," says Mary Ellen Read, architect at Northern Front Studio. The façade design, for instance, is an interpretation of the colours of the northern lights. On the exterior, a fibreglass curtain wall helps bol- ster the building's energy efficiency. In the interior, the spaces are softened with curved features, while fluctuat- ing volumes of those spaces facilitate a sense of openness. Clerestory lighting LOCATION 5 Hospital Road, Whitehorse, Yukon OWNER /DEVELOPER Yukon Hospital Corporation ARCHITECTS Northern Front Studio / Thinkspace Architecture Planning Interior Design Ltd. GENER AL CONTR ACTOR Unitech Construction Management STRUCTUR AL CONSULTANT Bush, Bohlman & Partners MECHANICAL /ELECTRICAL CONSULTANT Introba CIVIL CONSULTANT Copperbelt Engineering Ltd. TOTAL SIZE 10,000 square feet TOTAL COST $32.7 million

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