Major milestone reached in Bridgepoint Health redevelopment project 
 

The Bridgepoint Health redevelopment project is gaining momentum with the selection of Stantec Architecture and Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects (KPMB) to lead the planning, design and compliance aspects of the project. 

The redevelopment plan calls for the building of a complex care and complex rehabilitation hospital expressly designed for patients affected by diseases and disabilities such as multiple sclerosis, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, acquired brain injury, stroke, cancer, end stage kidney disease, and other complex illnesses.  It will also provide improved rehabilitation capacity for important procedures like hip and knee surgeries and other treatments required by an aging population. 

Once complete, the Bridgepoint redevelopment project will allow the hospital to provide 21st century healthcare to the fastest growing segment of health system users - people with complex chronic disease and disability.   

The new Bridgepoint Health facilities will 'change the world' for complex health care delivery by providing facilities specifically designed to serve this population.   

“The selection of a leading architectural team brings us one step closer to creating Canada's leading centre for the treatment of people living with complex chronic disease and disability in Toronto,” said Marian Walsh President and CEO, Bridgepoint Health. “The design will respect both the history of Bridgepoint Hospital and the Don Jail as a major feature in the Riverdale Community and position Bridgepoint Health as a visible icon of positive change in the healthcare system in our City.” 

“It will also ensure we have the facilities we need to fulfill our teaching goals in partnership with University of Toronto and attract and retain the best health professionals to help us change the world for people living with complex chronic disease and disability.”  

The Bridgepoint Health redevelopment project, scheduled to begin construction in 2009 will include:

  •  A new state of the art complex chronic care and rehab hospital 
  • Centre for Research, Education and Policy 
  • Redevelopment of historic Don Jail 
  • Creation of new public park 
  • Proposed Centre for Living 

Bridgepoint Health will work with Infrastructure Ontario to redevelop the hospital, which will remain publicly owned, publicly controlled and publicly accountable.   

Bridgepoint Health is Canada's largest and most progressive health care network focused exclusively on “changing the world” for the growing numbers of people in need of complex medical care and rehabilitation.  Bridgepoint Health comprises four groups:  Bridgepoint Hospital, Bridgepoint Community Rehab (a not for profit community based rehabilitation service), Bridgepoint Health Research Institute, and the Bridgepoint Health Foundation.  

Visit www.bridgepointhealth.ca for more information. 

Contact

Bernadette Seward

Bridgepoint Health 

416-461-8251 x 2177 

KPMB 

KPMB is one of Canada's leading architectural practices recognized for architectural excellence. The studio was recently profiled by The Globe and Mail as one of the top 10 Canadians in the arts in 2006 and Bruce Kuwabara was the recipient of the 2006 Royal Architectural Institute of Canada's Gold Medal. The firm is also the recipient of nine Governor General's Awards as well as the Toronto Arts Award. KPMB's contributions to Toronto's cultural renaissance include Canada's National Ballet School, the Young Centre for Performing Arts,  the Gardiner Museum,  the forthcoming Royal Conservatory of Music TELUS Performance and Learning Centre and the Toronto International Film Festival Group's Festival Centre.  

For Bridgepoint Health, Kuwabara and his associate Mitchell Hall will bring their expertise in integrating contemporary architecture with heritage structures and in developing innovative expressions of sustainable design from previous collaborations. These include the recent design of the Celia Franca Centre for Canada's National Ballet School, the Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate Winery, and the Cardinal Ambrozic Houses of Providence. 

Amanda Sebris

KPMB Architects 

416-977-5104 x 291 

Stantec Architecture 

Stantec Architecture is an award-winning architectural practice with a reputation for creating high-performance, fiscally responsible, and sustainable projects. A nationally recognized leader in healthcare design Stantec Architecture has been involved in numerous projects across Canada including the following significant Ontario projects: Peterborough Regional Health Centre, Montfort Hospital Redevelopment, Bloorview Kids Rehab, Chatham-Kent Health Alliance Redevelopment, University Health Network, Project 2003, Lakeridge Health Oshawa, Rouge Valley Health System and York Central Hospital. Other award-winning projects by Stantec Architecture include Toronto's 51 Division Police Facility, the University of Toronto at Scarborough Student Centre, Casino Point Edward, the National Trade Centre and Molson Amphitheatre. 

Andrea Johnson 

Stantec Architecture 

416-596-6666 x 241