QEII Health Science Centre Emergency Department Expansion

In June of 2009, the expanded Emergency & Trauma Centre, the largest of its kind in Atlantic Canada, opened its doors to patients. The new 14,000 square foot addition was designed with a robust reinforced structural concrete frame capable of supporting five additional future floors above.  The structure was designed so that the future vertical expansion can take place while keeping the emergency department open. Working around an existing hospital emergency department is challenging at the best of times and this structure was designed and sequenced to ensure the existing Emergency Department remained fully operational during construction.

The construction of the new expanded emergency department extended the high site elevation close to the lower adjacent site. This required BMR to design a series of large, reinforced concrete retaining walls to protect the CBC building site. In addition, the team at BMR was instrumental in assisting with the coordination of existing storm and sewer lines with the new foundation structure so as not to impact existing hospital operations.

Key Points

• Careful coordination and site investigation to tie into existing foundation structure
• Designed with the future in mind for five additional floors above
• Existing civil infrastructure coordinated on structural drawings to ensure continued hospital operations during construction