Builders show off new hospital
Stanton Renewal completion set for 2018; opening day scheduled for 2019
Joseph Tunney
Northern News Services
Friday, August 26, 2016
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The new Stanton Territorial Hospital is planned to finish on time.
Opening day for the new Stanton Territorial Hospital is expected to be in 2019. - Joseph Tunney/NNSL photo |
These were the phrases spoken with the most enthusiasm by Stanton Renewal Project staff during a tour of the under-construction building Tuesday afternoon.
"Absolutely," said Jeannie Dhaliwal, director of Stanton Renewal, smile beaming, about whether the hospital would be finished as promised.
The new hospital was first announced in October when there was a surprise statement from the territorial government that instead of renovating the old hospital, a whole new one would be built next to it.
It is a P3 project, which refers to a private-public partnership between the territorial government and a private company.
The territorial government will own and operate the new Stanton Hospital, while Boreal Health Partnership will maintain the hospital - including providing laundry, housekeeping, managing the health desk, parking, pest control and security and surveillance - for a period of 30 years.
The original total capital cost of construction project was $300 million when it was first announced, but that number jumped to $350 million in October.
According to the Stanton Renewal website, the extra $50 million accounts for project management costs, the Clinical Information System and contingency.
The new hospital will have a psychiatric unit with a private garden for that unit. The fifth floor will have a view of Frame Lake and the city skyline.
Prior to the media tour, a number of GNWT ministers were given a similar tour.
Present were Finance Minister Robert C. McLeod, Public Works and Services Minister Caroline Cochrane, Health and Social Services Minister Glen Abernethy and Education, Culture and Employment Minister Alfred Moses.
"We're hoping to get the building enclosed and weather-tight by the end of October, early November, so we can get to work on the inside for the winter when it's to cold to work outside," said Terry Bateman, manager of operations at Clark Builders.
Bateman said 15,000 tons of steel was used for construction.
"That's equivalent to 15 757 airplanes," said Bateman. "Or six kilometres of two-lane highways, half an inch thick."
The new hospital is planned on being substantially completed by December 2018. After that, there will be a transition period from the old hospital to the new one.
Opening day is projected to be in 2019.
