BY MATT ROBINSONJUNE 18, 2016
As concept drawings are released for a brand-new St. Paul's Hospital to be built just north of Vancouver's Pacific Central Train Station, Paul Landry, a senior vice-president at Providence Health Care, and Kevin McNaney, the city's project director for Northeast False Creek, walked the Sun through "Urban Court" — one of two preliminary layouts headed for public comment at open houses Saturday and Wednesday.
CENTRAL HUB
The central hub is the main entrance to the hospital campus. It connects to other buildings via enclosed bridge links, and in this concept is accessed from Gore Ave. In Providence's second concept (not pictured), the entrance is on National Ave.
HOSPITAL CORE
The roof of the hospital could feature open rooftops for practitioners and patients.
IN-PATIENT TOWER
A big difference between the two concepts is the orientation of the core of the hospital and its in-patient tower, which in this case runs east-west. The other is north-south.
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT
This concept has ambulances accessing the emergency department from Malkin Ave., but Providence is still working with B.C. Ambulance Service to find the most efficient route.
MENTAL HEALTH PAVILION
Many patients who come through the emergency room for treatment are treated, stabilized, then directed to mental health programming.
MEDICAL OFFICES
Hospitals attract private doctors and these offices would provide space for clinics, laboratories and other services.
AMBULATORY CARE
This centralizes outpatient clinics at the "front of house." That allows patients to get the care they need without navigating the hospital to get to a clinic.
RESEARCH FACILITY
In Providence's second concept (not shown), the research facility is much closer to the medical offices, which could help attract innovative industry players to the hospital.
DAYCARE
Daycare spaces would help meet the needs of hospital staff and the immediate community.
HOTEL
St. Paul's treats people from around the province, and a nearby hotel is a value-added amenity wanted by patients, Landry said.
RETAIL
Patients, family members and hospital and medical office employees will create a demand for services like restaurants, coffee shops, food stores and other retail services.
Concept drawings are released for a brand-new St. Paul's Hospital to be built just north of Vancouver's Pacific Central Train Station. HANDOUT [PNG Merlin Archive]
Public feedback on the concepts will be used to create a preferred plan. That will be presented to the public in early fall, then to council, McNaney said. After that, Providence will need to take it to the province as part of its business case.
The open houses are Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Creekside Community Centre near the Olympic Village; and Wednesday 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Thorton Park in front of the train station.
mrobinson@postmedia.com
