University Health Network is enhancing and expanding the Toronto Western Hospital campus by building a new state-of-the-art surgical and patient tower on the southeast corner of Bathurst and Nassau streets. Planning started in 2022 thanks to a $34 million planning grant from the Ontario government. DIALOG is the design partner and EllisDon is the construction manager, both selected through a rigorous procurement process. Construction activity is scheduled to start in early 2024 and be complete in 2028. Internally, the project to build this state-of-the-art tower that will enhance the patient and staff workplace experiences is called Project Aspire.
Quick facts
- The tower will be
15 storeys
-
11 storeys are for patient care and support services
- The ground level will be
three stories high
-
One storey for mechanical rooms
- The tower will
increase operating room capacity by 20 per cent over the next 10 years, helping to
reduce the surgical backlog
- There is a multi-disciplinary project team who are collectively responsible for:
- Ensuring the safe construction of a tower that will enable safe and efficient patient care for many years to come
- Enabling the smooth and safe transition of care and services from existing parts of TWH to the new tower
Why a new tower?
Toronto Western Hospital is a local community hospital, that also serves patients from across Ontario.
The hospital's Main Pavilion is 100 years old, with its McLaughlin Pavilion (where day surgery takes place) 60+ years old – meaning that current operating rooms (ORs) are safe but outdated.
The need to improve the existing ORs is clear and renovation is not the best option.
A new building creates the opportunity for more patient beds, more efficient and safe patient flows and a better patient and family experience.
The future
Once
complete in 2028, some of the key features of the tower will be:
-
Improved patient flows and clinical workflows
-
82 private inpatient rooms with washrooms
-
20 new operating rooms (ORs)
- Including
three new image-guided ORs for complex neurosurgical and spinal procedures
- Improved
working environment
- Improved
amenities for family members and other visitors
-
Modern digital infrastructure
-
80+ underground parking stalls
Community engagement
Since March 2021, UHN has engaged with Toronto Western Hospital's surrounding community from Kensington Market to build awareness of this project and the need for enhanced services within the area.
UHN continues to engage with the community, alongside the local Councillor's office (Ward 11 University – Rosedale Councillor Dianne Saxe) and is inspired and energized by the community support received so far. We look forward to continuing this work to build a healthier community – and A Healthier World.
