Environmentally friendly facility to boost economy during construction and will respond to today's number one health care issue - complex chronic disease 

Bridgepoint Health and Infrastructure Ontario today announced that Plenary Health signed a contract with the hospital to design, build, finance and maintain the new Bridgepoint Hospital.  The new facility will replace the existing aging hospital; it has been designed specially for patients with complex chronic disease (multiple lifelong illnesses) - the number one health care issue of the 21st century. Today's announcement signifies that all contractual steps have been completed and construction can begin immediately. 

The construction project will provide a sizeable boost to the regional and Ontario economies by directly and indirectly creating and supporting thousands of jobs. At the peak of construction, it is estimated that 500 to 600 workers will be on site daily.  Labour will largely be drawn from the Greater Toronto Area. 

The new Bridgepoint Hospital will remain in Riverdale, at Broadview Avenue and Gerrard Street East. It has been designed with environmentally responsible and sustainable features and will be certified under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System. 

In comparison to standard hospital designs, the new Bridgepoint Hospital will: 

Consume less energy; 

  • Use 20 per cent less potable water; 
  • Use storm-water runoff from the roof for landscape irrigation;
  • Support alternative transportation options by providing: 
  • Preferred parking for carpools 
  • Amenities for cyclists (storage, showers, and expanded staff change rooms
  • Maximize the use of natural light; and, 
  • Divert at least 75 per cent of construction waste away from landfill by recycling or salvaging construction materials. 

    Staff at the new 10-storey, 472 bed and 680,000 square foot building will help people living with complex chronic disease to reach their full potential in a state-of-the-art facility, providing: 

  • Independent living space; 
  • A washroom in each patient room for enhanced infection prevention and control;
  • Increased ambulatory space for outpatient/community programming;
  • Larger rooms with modern technologies for more bedside procedures;
  • More natural light and spectacular views of the city; 
  • Double the amount of square footage for therapy space, including a state-of-the-art therapy area on each floor for easy access; 
  • A new in-ground therapy pool that is triple the size of the existing above-ground pool;
  • Double the number of patient lounges;
  • More room for specialized wheelchairs, letting patients regain their independence in their own space;
  • Bright, open dining rooms and common areas for visiting and recreational activities; and
  • New areas open to the public, including a cafeteria, auditorium, retail shops, library, internet café, rooftop garden and labyrinth terrace. 

    The historic Don Jail will be preserved and repurposed, bringing together world-class clinical, education, and research talent.  The main entrance will be publicly accessible, the Rotunda will be restored to its original beauty, and some cells and the gallows will be preserved for historical purposes.  

    Plenary Health participated in an open, fair and competitive procurement process and submitted the proposal with the best value for Ontario taxpayers.  

    The Plenary Health team includes Plenary Group, Innisfree, HDR Architects/Diamond Schmitt Architects Inc., PCL Constructors Canada Inc., Johnson Controls Inc., and RBC Capital Markets. Financing for the Bridgepoint Hospital project is being provided by RBC Dominion Securities Inc. as bond underwriter, together with a banking group consisting of Calyon New York Branch, Dexia Credit Local and Royal Bank of Canada. Equity is being provided by Plenary and Innisfree. 

    The Bridgepoint Hospital project will be delivered using an alternative financing and procurement model.  Plenary will receive annual payments from Bridgepoint Health over a 30-year period.   Payments cover construction, building maintenance, lifecycle repair and renewal and project financing. Lifecycle repair and renewal will ensure that heating and cooling systems, windows, floors and roofing structures, for example, are kept in excellent working condition over the 30 year period. The annual payments are comparable to a fixed-rate mortgage with maintenance and repair expenses included and will total approximately $1.27 billion after 30 years.  In today's dollars this is equivalent to approximately $622 million.   

    Construction of the new hospital will be completed in early 2013 and patients will move in the spring of 2013. 

    Infrastructure Ontario and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care are working with Bridgepoint Health and Plenary Health to develop the new 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. 

    Bridgepoint Health is Canada's leader in the prevention and management of complex chronic disease and disability.  Affiliated with the University of Toronto, Bridgepoint Health is restoring lives through innovations in care, research and teaching.

    Visit www.infrastructureontario.ca for more information. 

    Media Contacts: 

    Jessica Hooker       

    Infrastructure Ontario      

    416-327-5325 

    Eva Lannon

    Bridgepoint Health

    416-302-5536 

    Disponible en français 

    Quotes :  

    George Smitherman, Deputy Premier and Minister of Energy and Infrastructure 

    “As a result of our government's investments, we now have more than 100 new and existing hospitals in various stages of development across the province. By investing in our health care infrastructure, we are stimulating the economy, creating jobs and building stronger and healthier communities.”  

    Marian Walsh, President and CEO, Bridgepoint Health 

    “We're thrilled to be moving forward with a much-needed facility that will be specifically designed to meet the specialized care needs of people with complex chronic disease (CCD).  Today, a staggering one-third of Ontarians have CCD.  Our role at Bridgepoint is to restore lives by helping people to reach their full potential, while living with CCD.  Together with the Ontario Government and Plenary Health, we will be creating a centre of excellence that will support our patients on their journey to better living.  In addition to innovations in patient care, the new hospital will bring together top research, education and clinical talent in search of new ways of preventing and managing CCD.” 

    Mike Marasco, CEO, Plenary Health 

    “Our team is pleased to have reached this important milestone and look forward to working with our partners at Bridgepoint Health over the next 34 years to build and maintain a state-of-the-art facility.”