Peter Lougheed Centre to be temporarily expanded for pandemic

Calgary’s Peter Lougheed Centre will soon be seeing an additional 100 care spaces.

The hospital has been donated a temporary structure from Alberta-based Sprung Structures, which will act as an expansion to the centre during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Alberta Health Services, the Alberta government, and Calgary officials are working with the company to fast-track the temporary expansion, which will be located in the Peter Lougheed Centre’s parking lot.

• See also: 
  • Coronavirus will lead to “worst recession since the Great Depression”: IMF
  • Most Canadians think governments are doing a good job handling the crisis: survey
  • Travellers now required to present official self-isolation plan upon returning to Canada

“Our health system is working around-the-clock to respond to COVID-19,” said Minister of Health Tyler Shandro in the release.

“This donation to AHS and the people of Alberta will significantly expand capacity and, ultimately, help save lives. I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to Sprung Structures on behalf of all Albertans.”

A total of $3 million will be invested by AHS to turn the structure into a health-care delivery site, and the donation of the 70 m by 105 m structure is estimated at around $235,000.

“When the province needs help in a time of crisis, we want to step up and do our part,” said Sprung Structures Vice President, Tim Sprung, in the release.

“We hope the donation of this structure will help ease capacity pressures on the health-care system and give our province’s health-care providers the space they need to care for Albertans during this global pandemic.”

Along with the 100 care spaces, the structure will also include room for staff and physician support space, and patient washrooms.

Alberta Health Services is ensuring over 3,000 acute care and intensive care spaces for Albertans with coronavirus, the release states.