Construction officially begins on new $2.2 billion St. Paul's Hospital (RENDERINGS)
The largest hospital development project in the history of BC has kicked off, now that construction of the new replacement St. Paul’s Hospital in the False Creek Flats has officially begun.
The provincial government announced today work has begun on the new health campus at the vacant 18.4-acre gravel lot at 1002 Station Street — just southeast of Vancouver’s Chinatown, and immediately north of Pacific Central Station and SkyTrain’s Main Street-Science World Station.
- See also:
- Opinion: New St. Paul’s Hospital campus will revitalize Vancouver’s Chinatown
- St. Paul’s Hospital site sold to Concord Pacific for $1 billion
- New St. Paul’s Hospital at False Creek Flats approved by Vancouver City Council
- First glimpse of the Hogan’s Alley redevelopment on the edge of Vancouver’s Chinatown
- Next phases of $1.5 billion expansion of New Westminster hospital moving forward
PCL Construction was selected last month to design, build, and provide partial construction financing. New architectural renderings showing the final detailed design of the hospital were also released today.
2021 rendering showing the final design of the new St. Paul’s Hospital. (Providence Health Care)
2021 rendering showing the final design of the new St. Paul’s Hospital. (Providence Health Care)
The latest construction cost estimate pegs the new hospital building — deemed as the first phase of the multi-building health campus — at $2.174 billion, which is up from the previous estimate of $1.9 billion made about three years ago.
The provincial government will provide $1.327 billion, and Concord Pacific will provide Providence Health Care with approximately $1 billion from the acquisition of the existing hospital at 1081 Burrard Street for the 6.6-acre site’s redevelopment potential.
The remainder will be covered by $125 million from St. Paul’s Foundation’s fundraising efforts, in addition to the $100 million already raised.
As well, the hospital will now open in 2027, instead of its last projected date of 2026.
2021 rendering showing the final design of the new St. Paul’s Hospital. (Providence Health Care)
2021 rendering showing the final design of the new St. Paul’s Hospital. (Providence Health Care)
2021 rendering showing the final design of the new St. Paul’s Hospital. (Providence Health Care)
Vancouver City Council provided its final approval for the new hospital in late 2019. Although community amenity contributions are not required, the new hospital is still subject to the municipal government’s citywide development cost levies totalling $90 million, plus a public art budget of $6.6 million.
“The new St. Paul’s Hospital will be home to world-class public health care as well as research and a teaching centre that will help transform patient care for people in BC,” said BC Health Minister Adrian Dix in a statement.
“After more than a decade and a half of stalling, I am proud that our government gave this project the green light and took further action for this new, state-of-the-art facility. The St. Paul’s Hospital will continue its legacy of serving the people around the province now and in the future.”
2021 rendering showing the final design of the new St. Paul’s Hospital. (Providence Health Care)
2021 rendering showing the final design of the new St. Paul’s Hospital. (Providence Health Care)
2021 rendering showing the final design of the new St. Paul’s Hospital. (Providence Health Care)
The new location will retain its designation as a provincial and teaching hospital, and will have a capacity of up to 548 beds, representing a net gain of 115 new beds.
It will be the home of several leading provincial programs and referral centres, including for heart and lung care, renal, eating disorders and specialty surgeries and transplants.
In addition, it will offer a diverse range of general and specialized care, including HIV/AIDS, chronic disease management services, emergency and critical care, mental health and addictions beds and programs, ambulatory services and outpatient clinics, end-of-life care, Indigenous health, maternity, colorectal and gastrointestinal services, and community care and community outreach programs.
A chapel will be incorporated into the ground level near the main entrance and lobby atrium. Ample public spaces are included within the campus, including a civic plaza and “wellness walk.”
2021 rendering showing the final design of the new St. Paul’s Hospital. (Providence Health Care)
2021 rendering showing the final design of the new St. Paul’s Hospital. (Providence Health Care)
2021 rendering showing the final design of the new St. Paul’s Hospital. (Providence Health Care)
Prior to COVID-19, Providence Health Care data showed 32% of St. Paul’s Hospital patients arriving in the emergency department live in the Downtown Eastside and Strathcona areas. Overall, 21% of all emergency department visits at the existing hospital are from these two neighbourhoods.
As well, nearly four-in-10 acute inpatients at St. Paul’s Hospital come from areas outside of the city, and this increases to 51% for outpatient visits. Comparatively, just 11% of the hospital’s inpatients and outpatients are from downtown’s West End.
The existing hospital will be decommissioned only after the new hospital becomes fully operational.
The first phase resulting in the new hospital building in 2027 will create over 8,500 direct jobs and 5,400 indirect jobs during the construction process, providing an economic stimulus during the COVID-19 recovery period.
2021 rendering showing the final design of the new St. Paul’s Hospital. (Providence Health Care)
2021 rendering showing the final design of the new St. Paul’s Hospital. (Providence Health Care)
2021 rendering showing the final design of the new St. Paul’s Hospital. (Providence Health Care)
2021 rendering showing the final design of the new St. Paul’s Hospital. (Providence Health Care)
A second phase will add supporting buildings to create medical offices, research space, retail and restaurant space, a hotel with family-sized guest rooms, and about 75 rental homes for healthcare workers.
Two daycare facilities are planned; a 69-space childcare centre will be part of the first phase, while a 49-space childcare centre will be built into the second phase.
A third phase expansion would allow for the full buildout of the hospital, as well as additional medical offices and research space.
Altogether at full buildout, the hospital will span 1.7 million sq. ft. of total floor area, plus 600,000 sq. ft. of medical offices and research space, 45,000 sq. ft. of retail and restaurant space, 140,000 sq. ft. of hotel space, and 71,000 sq. ft. of rental housing for healthcare workers. At least 1,728 vehicle parking stalls will be constructed to support all functions of the medical campus.
By the 2040s, when all phases of the hospital campus are complete, the new St. Paul’s Hospital and its supporting buildings will employ over 10,000 people, effectively providing an economic boost to the neighbouring Chinatown area.
Major hospital redevelopments are also planned or already underway at other locations in the region, including a $1.5-billion project at New Westminster’s Royal Columbian Hospital, a $1.3-billion rebuild of Burnaby Hospital, a new second additional hospital for Surrey in the Cloverdale area, a new acute tower for Richmond Hospital, and a new acute building for Lions Gate Hospital in North Vancouver.
2021 rendering showing the final design of the new St. Paul’s Hospital. (Providence Health Care)
2021 rendering showing the final design of the new St. Paul’s Hospital. (Providence Health Care)
2021 rendering showing the final design of the new St. Paul’s Hospital. (Providence Health Care)
2021 rendering showing the final design of the new St. Paul’s Hospital. (Providence Health Care)
- See also:
- Opinion: New St. Paul’s Hospital campus will revitalize Vancouver’s Chinatown
- St. Paul’s Hospital site sold to Concord Pacific for $1 billion
- New St. Paul’s Hospital at False Creek Flats approved by Vancouver City Council
- First glimpse of the Hogan’s Alley redevelopment on the edge of Vancouver’s Chinatown
- Next phases of $1.5 billion expansion of New Westminster hospital moving forward
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