Stantec Architecture has been picked to lead the planning, design and compliance aspects of replacing Groves Memorial Community Hospital, but finding out the cost for that work may take some time.
It was announced on June 17 that Stantec was selected to lead the process, which involves the construction of a new hospital in Aboyne, between Elora and Fergus, to replace the existing Groves hospital in Fergus.
Officials say highlights of the project include:
– “building on an existing model of care that links traditional hospital-based acute care services with community-based services to achieve an enhanced continuum of care;”
– “providing a framework to address future flexibility and changes in technology;”
– “providing facilities that meet infection prevention and control standards and reflect best practices and evidence-based design;” and
– “providing services within a model of care to accommodate projected needs-based demographic changes.”
A press release from Groves officials states, “The team will prepare key documents to establish guidelines and performance requirements to be met by the successful building team when preparing its designs.
“It will also monitor construction progress and provide coordination services and oversight throughout the course of the project.”
Once those aspects are complete, the hospital and Infrastructure Ontario (IO) will issue a request for qualifications for a consortium to design, build and finance the project using the Alternative Financing and Procurement (AFP) model.
Under the AFP model, risks associated with the design, construction and financing of complex hospital projects are transferred to the private sector.
IO and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care are working with Groves Memorial Community Hospital to build the new replacement hospital, which will remain publicly owned, publicly controlled and publicly accountable, officials state.
As to the cost of the work, hospital president and CEO Jerome Quenneville said that information is not yet available.
“We have checked with Infrastructure Ontario … they have advised as follows: ‘As the contract value is commercially confidential to the (planning, design and compliance)consultant, IO is not in a position to release that info. IO will release the total project cost at financial close and the PDC contract value would be part of that cost.’”
Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott stated, “This is another step forward towards our community’s vision of a new, state-of-the-art hospital for the 21st century.”
He expressed his thanks to those involved to bring the project to this point.
“Groves has a well-deserved reputation of being the heart of our community,” said Arnott, who has advocated at Queen’s Park for more than a decade for a new Groves Hospital.
Arnott said he raised the issue countless times in speeches in the House, letters to ministers, private conversations and meetings and phone calls with ministry staff.
When approval for the new hospital was announced in 2011, Liberal MPP John Wilkinson publicly acknowledged Arnott’s role in securing the approval.
