On July 18, Niagara Health was joined by Premier Doug Ford, Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, and Kinga Surma, Minster of Infrastructure, to celebrate the start of construction on the new South Niagara hospital. A ceremony was held on the future hospital site to break ground on the 1.3-million-square-foot facility.
Located in Niagara Falls at the corner of Montrose and Biggar roads, the South Niagara hospital will increase regional healthcare capacity. The facility has been designed to meet the growing needs of Niagara’s aging population, featuring centres of excellence in complex care, wellness in aging and stroke. The 12-storey building will hold 469 single patient bedrooms, eight operating suites, 42 hemodialysis stations and two MRI machines. It will offer a full scope of hospital services, including emergency, critical care, diagnostic, therapeutic and surgical services.
The South Niagara hospital is also working towards being the first WELL-certified hospital in Canada. By including design features that focus on the health and well-being of hospital users, including staff and physicians, Niagara Health will be able to offer a more positive workplace environment, which will help to attract and retain top healthcare professionals. The hospital will also feature an Indigenous healing space and garden that was co-designed with the Indigenous community. These spaces were incorporated to create culturally safe and welcoming areas for Indigenous Peoples.
In February 2023, EllisDon Infrastructure Healthcare (EDIH) was awarded the $3.6-billion contract to design, build, finance and maintain the hospital. Teams have been busy working with Niagara Health staff, physicians, patient and community partners on design development, ensuring the hospital design meets the complex needs of this state-of-the art healthcare facility that will serve Niagara for years to come. The use of local sub-contractors and workers is a priority for the hospital project, which will bring multi-year economic benefits and boost employment and community growth in Niagara. EDIH has committed to exploring opportunities to support local business during construction and has awarded early sub-contracts to local businesses and labour unions.
Decew Construction (Rankin Construction) has already begun site work on the property in preparation for the construction trailer complex, which will be installed soon. Excavation will begin by the end of the summer. The hospital will take five years to complete, with the official opening planned for summer 2028.
Congratulations and we look forward to many more opportunities to have the community’s input into this exciting project.
