Environmentally friendly facility boosting local economy during construction  

HAMILTON - St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton's West 5th Campus reached a major construction milestone today as hospital staff, board members, project partners and community members celebrated the building's topping off.

'Topping off' is a construction tradition that celebrates a building reaching its tallest vertical peak. 

Already in the second year of construction, the project is more than 50 per cent complete and is on time and on budget. More than 500 workers are on site daily, providing a sizeable boost to Hamilton's economy by supporting and creating jobs. 

The new hospital will provide larger, state-of-the-art facilities to better support people and families struggling with mental illness and addiction. Highlights of the project include: 

  • approximately 800,000 square feet of indoor space;
  • increased capacity of up to 305 inpatient beds and associated support services;
  • expanded outpatient clinics for psychiatry, diagnostic imaging and medical services; and
  • innovative research and academic spaces. 

Construction of the hospital began in late 2010 and it is expected to open to patients in summer 2014.

Infrastructure Ontario and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care are working with St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton to develop the new hospital, which will remain publicly owned, publicly controlled and publicly accountable.

Infrastructure Ontario is a Crown corporation dedicated to delivering some of the province's larger and more complex infrastructure renewal projects, on time and on budget.  It also manages one of the largest real estate portfolios in Canada, offers real estate services, such as asset management and property and land management, and provides the public sector and not-for-profit organizations with long-term financing to renew public infrastructure.

Visit www.infrastructureontario.ca or www.stjoes.ca for more information. 

Quotes: 

Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care 
“This new hospital will provide Hamilton and surrounding communities with better access to care for those struggling with mental illness and addiction. I'm proud of our government's commitment to providing high quality care services for residents closer to home.” 

Ted McMeekin, MPP, Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale 
“This is a significant milestone for the people of Hamilton. Through investment in this new hospital, the residents in our community will have continued access to great health care for many years to come.”

Dr. David Higgins, President of St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton 
“This is a momentous occasion for healthcare. Through this project, we will continue to enhance our role as the leader in mental health and addiction services in this region.”  

Contacts: 

Debbie Silva  
St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton 
905-522-1155, Ext. 33037

Terence Foran
Infrastructure Ontario
416 325-2939 
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