Work Will Prepare Site for Redevelopment
TORONTO - Preparation work began today at Toronto Rehabilitation Institute's (Toronto Rehab) University Centre to prepare for construction of a new 13-storey patient care and research tower.
“This project illustrates the progress being made to improve infrastructure at hospitals across the province,” said David Caplan, Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal. “It also demonstrates that our government is fulfilling its commitment to modernize Ontario hospitals and stimulate economic growth.”
“The Toronto Rehabilitation Institute is one of many hospital projects across the province that will help us meet our objectives to provide better health care services for Ontario patients and healthcare workers,” said George Smitherman, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.
The site preparation work required in advance of the hospital's main redevelopment project includes limited internal renovations to the existing east wing to accommodate the transfer of clinical services from the south wing. Following the decanting of staff and patient care services currently housed in the south wing, it will be demolished.
The broader capital project to redevelop and expand Toronto Rehab's University Centre includes construction of a new 13-storey patient care and research tower and further renovations to the 12-storey east wing and four-storey north wing.
“This signals the start of a new chapter for Toronto Rehab,” said Mark Rochon, President and CEO of Toronto Rehab. “This will be the site of one of the most advanced rehabilitation hospitals in the province, and one that is better able to meet the needs of those who require our specialized rehabilitation services as well as our ground-breaking research and innovative education programs.”
Once completed, Toronto Rehab's University Centre will be a more modern hospital with facilities better designed to provide care to adults undergoing rehabilitation for serious injury and illness including stroke, brain injury and multiple trauma and cancer. The redevelopment project will also include the creation of iDAPT facilities - Intelligent Design for Adaptation, Participation and Technology - one of the most advanced rehabilitation research facilities in the world. Toronto Rehab's iDAPT facilities will significantly change the landscape of rehabilitation research in Canada and beyond.
The main redevelopment project is expected to begin in early summer 2008.
Infrastructure Ontario and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care will work with Toronto Rehab to redevelop the hospital, which will remain publicly owned, publicly controlled and publicly accountable. Infrastructure Ontario is a Crown corporation dedicated to managing some of the province's larger and more complex infrastructure renewal projects-ensuring they are built on time and on budget.
This project is guided by principles outlined in the Province's Building a Better Tomorrow framework, which ensures public ownership of core assets such as hospitals, schools, and water and wastewater facilities.
Visit www.infrastructureontario.ca for more information.
Contacts:
Amy Tang
Minister's Office
Public Infrastructure and Renewal
416-325-4048
Jessica Hooker
Infrastructure Ontario
416-327-5325
Carolyn Lovas
Toronto Rehabilitation Institute
416-597-3422, ext. 3837
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