Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/1535861
J U N E 2 0 2 5 | 79 and exterior glazing bathe the inte- rior with natural light. The team was thoughtful about creating spaces to accommodate Yukon First Nations art and about locating interior and outdoor healing spaces to accommo- date smudging practices. An outdoor amenity space is designed to create comfort and connection to nature, while an interior group therapy space features an HVAC system that accom- modates smudging ceremonies. "Short-term flexibility and long- term adaptability accommodate mental health patients with a variety of needs including adolescents, incar- cerated, not criminally responsible, general adult, psychosis, social anxi- ety, acute dementia, elderly, aggressive, elopement, chronic, autism, eating dis- orders, and substance use," Dust says. "Adaptive design measures are imple- mented throughout and include the ability to compartmentalize portions of the facility, without limiting access to amenities, in order to accommodate a variety of different patient types." Flexible patient treatment spaces, zoning, and segregation capabili- ties support the complexity of patient needs and the evolving landscape of mental wellness care. "These design elements safely and respectfully support a diverse patient population while improving staff effi- ciency and staff and patient safety concerns," Read says. "The central- ized location of the team care station provides uninterrupted lines of sight from team care station to all patient rooms and shared spaces." One challenge the team faced was constructing an addition above and in front of Whitehorse's only emergency room. The emergency department and patient drop-off were required to remain operational during the course of construction, which included site work, foundations, and footings, and the seismically isolated addition to the existing Whitehorse General Hospital. Also, the envelope required com- plex detailing due to the connection between the existing and new build- ing components for fire safety and airtightness, and to meet the energy standards of the northern location. Due to the location of the facility and climatic conditions of the north, procuring skilled local and outside trades was a challenge, again due to the complexity of the program and the infection prevention and con- trol requirements associated with construction within an operational health-care facility. "By offering a space specifically designed for mental health treatment, patients will receive care in an environ- ment tailored to their needs, promoting better outcomes and faster recovery," Girling says. "And by improving mental health care, we contribute to the over- all well-being of the Yukon community, supporting individuals and families in their journey to wellness." A 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. We are honored to work with the Yukon Hospital Corporation as their Construction Manager for the Whitehorse General Hospital project. 200 -1530 56th St. Delta, B.C. 604-943-8845 unitechcm.ca Unitech Construction.indd 1 Unitech Construction.indd 1 2025-05-15 9:01 AM 2025-05-15 9:01 AM