First All Mass Timber Acute Care Hospital in North America Breaks Ground in Ontario

The Quinte Health Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital in Picton, Ontario, which has officially broken ground, will be the first all mass timber acute care hospital in North America upon completion in 2027.

The new hospital is designed by HDR and currently under construction with M. Sullivan & Son and Infrastructure Ontario.

This healing environment will serve its community with advanced medical technologies, energy-efficient operations, biophilic design principles, a low-carbon mass timber structure and access to nature throughout the facility.

“The new Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital is more than a modern healthcare facility – it’s a reflection of the remarkable pride this community has in its hometown hospital spanning more than a century,” said Stacey Daub, president and CEO, Quinte Health. “Transitioning from an older outdated building to an innovative, all–mass timber structure allows Quinte Health to meet the latest standards in healthcare and provide a safer, more resilient space that serves both our community and the thousands of visitors drawn to the beautiful region each year.”

The Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital’s clinical capabilities will include 23 inpatient beds, an emergency department, diagnostic imaging, procedures, comprehensive ambulatory care services and healing gardens.

Its sustainable infrastructure will feature geothermal energy, solar panels, green roofs, electric vehicle ready parking, and a high-performance building envelope for future electrification and net-zero carbon emission status.

Located in the heart of Picton, Ontario, the new Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital will be adjacent to the existing hospital, which will remain operational during construction.

“It has been an amazing journey with Quinte Health and the Prince Edward County community to be able to bring such a groundbreaking energy and carbon reduction approach to the design of acute care facilities,” said Jason-Emery Groen, design director, HDR, Canada. “Through a multidisciplinary approach to building trust among key stakeholders, agencies and Authorities Having Jurisdiction, HDR was able to shift age-old limitations into phenomenal opportunities, not only for this community, but the future of healthcare design and beyond in North America.”

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