Environmentally friendly facility to boost local economy during construction

HAMILTON - St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton and Infrastructure Ontario announced today Plenary Health has signed a contract to design, build, finance and maintain the new West 5th Campus project. Today's announcement signals that all contractual steps are complete, the financing set and construction can begin.

Construction will begin in January 2011 and is expected be completed in summer 2014. The construction project will provide stimulus to the regional and Ontario economies by directly and indirectly creating and supporting thousands of jobs. Labour will be drawn largely from Hamilton and the surrounding communities and it is expected at the peak of construction more than 650 workers will be on site daily. 

The new hospital will provide larger, state-of-the-art facilities in order to better support people and families struggling with mental illness and addiction.  

Highlights of the redevelopment include: 

  • Approximately 800,000 square feet of new construction;
  • Increased capacity of up to 305 inpatient beds and all associated support services;
  • Expanded outpatient clinics for psychiatry, diagnostic imaging and medical services; and
  • Innovative research and academic spaces.  

Plenary Health will receive annual payments from the province over a 30-year period. Payments cover construction, building maintenance, lifecycle repair and renewal and project financing. Lifecycle refers to ensuring that heating and cooling systems, windows, floors and roofing structures, for example, are kept in excellent working condition over the 30 year period. The payments are like a fixed-rate mortgage with maintenance and repair expenses included. The total value of the payments to Plenary Health spread over 30 years is approximately $1.196 billion. In present value dollars this is equivalent to approximately $581 million.

Infrastructure Ontario and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care are working with St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton to develop the new hospital, which will remain publicly owned, publicly controlled and publicly accountable.

Infrastructure Ontario is a Crown corporation dedicated to delivering some of the province's larger and more complex infrastructure renewal projects - ensuring they are built on time and on budget; as well, it is dedicated to providing the public sector and not-for-profit organizations with long-term financing to renew their infrastructure.

Visit www.infrastructureontario.ca for more information.  

Quotes: 

The Honourable Sophia Aggelonitis, Minister Responsible for Seniors and Minister of Revenue and MPP, Hamilton Mountain 
“This new hospital will provide our community better access to care for those struggling with mental illness and addiction. By investing in our health care infrastructure, we are stimulating the local economy, creating jobs and building a stronger and healthier Hamilton.” 

Ted McMeekin, MPP, Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale
“This is a significant project for the people of Hamilton. We can be assured that residents in our region will have continued access to great health care for many years to come.”

Dr. David Higgins, President of St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton 
“This is a momentous occasion for healthcare in our community and our province as we officially begin the construction of a brand new West 5th Campus of St. Joseph's Healthcare. Through this project, we will continue to enhance our role as the leader in mental health and addiction services in this region.”  

Dr. Bob Zipursky, VP Mental Health & Addiction Services of St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton and Chief of Psychiatry at SJHH and HHS 
“This state-of-the-art healthcare centre reflects and supports the exemplary care our team delivers to patients and the community. Our new West 5th Campus is designed to be inclusive and integrated, where people can access a wide range of groundbreaking healthcare services while we break down stigmas to support a new era of mental health.”

Contacts:

Debbie Silva    
St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton   
905 522-1155, Ext. 33037 

Terence Foran
Infrastructure Ontario
416 325-2939 

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