NORTH COWICHAN, B.C. – A Cowichan region hospital project on Vancouver Island has hit a milestone as the diagnostic and treatment centre on the site reaches structural completion.
The centre will house outpatient and diagnostic-care services, including an emergency department, medical imaging, ambulatory care, a pharmacy and cafeteria and will be linked to an inpatient tower through a community hall, a B.C. government release said.
Following structural completion of the centre work will continue on its interior, while structural work continues on the seven-storey inpatient tower and service centre, the release said.
The hospital will be the first fully electric hospital in the province and is being built to LEED Gold standards.
“In the three years leading up to opening day, we will continue to increase hospital capacity through Island Health’s Cowichan Health and Care Plan, allowing the dedicated teams at CDH to continue providing quality medical services to their patients. We look forward to providing care in a larger, more suitable facility with healing spaces and modern equipment,” Island Health board chair Leah Hollins said.
The total budget is nearly $1.5 billion provided by the province through Island Health, Cowichan Valley Regional Hospital District and Cowichan District Hospital Foundation.
The project, which replaces the region’s current hospital, is being delivered by the Nuts’a’maat Alliance, a fully integrated team comprised of participants from Island Health, EllisDon, Parkin Architects, BC Infrastructure Benefits and Infrastructure BC, the release said.
Construction of the 204-bed hospital is on track for completion in 2026 and is expected to be ready for patients in 2027.