martensville messenger - DECEMBER 1, 2016 - Page 11
Children’s Hospital Of Saskatchewan Construction One-Third Complete
Minister of Health Jim Reiter announced Friday,
November 25th that the construction on Children's Hospital
of Saskatchewan is now one-third, or about 33 per cent,
complete. He made the announcement after touring the
construction site and hearing firsthand about the progress.
"I am very pleased that the construction progress of the
Children's Hospital has reached the one-third completion
landmark," says Reiter. "Our government believes
Saskatchewan families deserve a modern hospital that
exemplifies patient-and-family-centred care, and meets
unique needs of mothers, babies, children and teens in our
province. This maternal and children's hospital will have
a long lasting impact to Saskatchewan people for many
generations to come."
Joining Minister Reiter on the tour were a team of
people dedicated to both the construction project and who
are preparing for its opening, along with important partners
working diligently to raise funds for the new facility.
"Walking through the site and seeing it now
nearly at its maximum height, you can't help but picture
the difference this will make to pediatric, maternal and
emergency care in our province," says Mike Stensrud,
Saskatoon Regional Health Authority board chair. "We
are thankful for the province's unwavering commitment to
this hospital, as well as our project partners and Children's
Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan. We, as a Region,
are also grateful for the passion and dedication of hundreds
of our staff, physicians and patient advisors who are
working each day to prepare and make improvements to
ensure the care provided inside these walls will match the
beauty of this new facility. It will be an amazing legacy for
Saskatchewan families."
Construction completion remains on schedule and
the $285.2 million project remains on budget, with $235.5
million (82.5%) coming from the provincial government,
$21.4 million (7.5%) from Saskatoon Health Region,
and $28.3 million (10%) funded through the Children's
Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan capital campaign.
Prior to the start of main building construction, the
Children's Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan had
already committed to raising $50 million for state-ofthe-art equipment, furnishings, and patient and family
enhancements for the majority of the hospital. In August
2015, they expanded that commitment by another $25
million.
That same day, Children's Hospital Foundation
16121DS2
ABOVE: Construction on Saskatoon’s Children’s Hospital is now 33% complete. The project is expected to be completed and open to
the public by late 2019. Picture provided as of November 2016.
of Saskatchewan announced it too is closing in on
an important milestone that will bring a significant
contribution to Saskatchewan health care, and most
importantly, Saskatchewan families.
"The perseverance and unwavering generosity
of our province is why we are proudly able to announce
that $54 million has been raised toward a $75 million goal
for the Children's Hospital of Saskatchewan," says Brynn
Boback-Lane, President and CEO of the Children's Hospital
Foundation of Saskatchewan. "As the sole Foundation
responsible for pediatric and maternal care within our new
maternal and children's hospital, we are steadfast in our
goal of ensuring that the equipment, enhancements, and
technology is being supported today and will be in place
when the doors open. The impact of each donation will
impact generations of families that need our collective
support."
This exciting progress with fundraising comes as
the concrete structure is being completed up to the fifth
floor. The fourth floor will be home
to a new neonatal intensive care
unit with all private patient rooms.
The third floor will house maternal
care, including three maternal
operating rooms, and the second
floor will be home to pediatric
inpatients units, including a
pediatric intensive care unit.
Soon, the structural steel will
be placed on the fifth floor which
will support the rooftop enclosure, which will contain all
the building’s air handling units, and on top of that will be
home to a new helipad for emergency helicopter service,
allowing a direct connection to the new emergency areas.
Construction on the building’s lower floors is
advancing with mechanical and electrical systems now
being installed. This includes the ground floor which will
house the separate adult emergency department and the
children’s emergency department, along with pediatric
surgery. The main floor will be the entry point for the new
hospital and will include a lobby with food services, along
with pediatric outpatient services.
"Construction crews will soon begin working
on the parts of the building which cantilever out over the
current roadways and rest on the structural columns which
are being put in place. Once this aspect of the structure
is completed, you will truly see the footprint this new
hospital will have," explains Craig Ayers, Saskatoon
Health Region's project director for Children's Hospital of
Saskatchewan. "In the new year, all construction activity
should be confined to the new hospital site and building,
meaning the site disruptions our patients and families,
along with staff and physicians, have been experiencing
over the last year should be greatly reduced. We would
like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding
during these first phases of construction. It's truly an
exciting time for all of us involved in this important work."
By spring, the entire shell of the building should be in
place. Children's Hospital of Saskatchewan is expected to
open in late 2019.
ABOVE: The construction site for the Children’s Hospital in Saskatoon as of this time last year. From
November 2015 to November 2016, the construction has been 33% completed.
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