The new Groves Memorial Community Hospital (GMCH) construction is moving along despite weather-related challenges.
“Concrete superstructure pours are ongoing, despite the poor weather conditions, and should be completed by the end of May,” states Dan Brzak, senior manager of capital projects at GMCH.
“As soon as the slab concrete has cured, the steel frame for the Mechanical and Electrical penthouse will start to take shape that will allow the start of the heating and cooling systems to be installed.”
Brzak continued, “The masonry crews have started to lay concrete block infill between the concrete structure that will allow for windows and doors to be installed and ‘weather seal’ the building.
“With this the interior work, like partition walls and mechanical and electrical systems, can start to be installed.”
Dale Clement, GMCH senior vice-president, redevelopment and transition, stated, “As community members walk past the new hospital site, along the Elora Cataract Trail, people will see a partial exterior wall rise in the middle of the field.”
Clement added, “This partial wall is part of an exterior mock-up to ensure that the exterior wall system, that will finally be installed on the building, meets all of the energy code requirements.”
Highlights of the new Groves hospital include:
– an emergency department with a larger footprint to support patient care;
– more space in ambulatory services and diagnostic imaging to accommodate the growing community;
– larger inpatient rooms with family areas;
– enhanced technology to support patient care views of the surrounding rural landscape from all patient rooms, including the Grand River and extensive trail network;
– modernized infection control measures, including additional isolation facilities, to enhance the hospital’s ability to respond to infections or disease outbreak; and
– an on-site helipad to allow faster access to patient transfers by air ambulance, large windowed areas that allow natural light to penetrate deep into the building.
Executive director of the Groves Hospital Foundation Lori Arsenault stated “fundraising for the new hospital is going well and recently exceeded $16-million (80% of the $20-million goal) thanks to the incredible support and generosity of the community.”
