Young patients of BC Children's Hospital joined Premier Christy Clark and Health Minister Michael de Jong to officially kick off construction of the BC Children's and BC Women's Hospitals redevelopment project.

"British Columbia parents will tell you that there's nothing more important than knowing quality care is available for children," said Premier Clark. "For decades, BC Children's and BC Women's Hospitals have provided the very best care for B.C. families. The major redevelopment we're launching today will ensure that British Columbians will continue to receive that care for decades to come."

Work on BC Children's and BC Women's Hospitals redevelopment project kicked off today with the start of construction on the Clinical Support Building.

The Clinical Support Building is part of the $90.5-million phase 1 of the redevelopment and will be a two-storey, 2,346-square-meter building consisting of an office-type environment with 80 underground parking stalls. The building will house crucial support services and clinical faculty that will be moved from one of the existing buildings scheduled for demolition to make way for the new Acute Care Centre.

"Redeveloping BC Children's and BC Women's Hospitals will serve some of our youngest patients, women and their families from across the province," said de Jong. "Over the next three years, the provincial government will be investing $1.9 billion in heath care projects across British Columbia."

"Beginning construction on the new Clinical Support Building marks an important construction milestone that brings us one step closer to building the new hospital," said board chair of Provincial Health Services Authority Wynne Powell. "This project will have a major, positive impact on women, children, and families all across British Columbia."

(flickr.com)

Bird Design Construction Incorporated was selected as the preferred proponent to design and build the Clinical Support Building following an extensive evaluation of proposals from three teams that were short-listed and invited to submit proposals to design and build the facility.

The Clinical Support Building is scheduled for completion in 2012.

Quick Facts:

• Last year alone, there were more than 196,000 patient visits to BC Children's Hospital, including 8,200 child surgeries and 42,800 ER visits.
• Approximately 7,000 babies were born at BC Women's Hospital last year, making it one of the busiest maternity centres in Canada.
• The $14-million Clinical Support Building is part of the $90.5-million Phase 1 of the BC Children's and BC Women's Hospitals Redevelopment Project and is expected to generate 579 direct construction-related jobs, including about 80 for the Clinical Support Building.
• Phase 1 of the BC Children's and BC Women's Hospitals Redevelopment Project includes additional neonatal ICU beds, site preparations for the new acute care hospital, and additional space for the University of British Columbia's faculty of medicine MD program.
• The second and third phases of the project will include building the new acute care hospital and renovations to and expansion of BC Women's Hospital.
• The total project cost for all three phases is estimated to be up to $700 million, with a final cost determined after procurement for phase 3 is completed.
• The BC Children's Hospital Foundation has pledged to raise $200 million through the Campaign for BC Children, with $150 million going toward the new BC Children's Hospital and $50 million toward Child Health BC.
• The Province has committed to funding the remaining cost of the redevelopment.