Three qualified teams have been shortlisted to participate in the next stage of the competitive selection process to build the acute care centre at BC Children's Hospital and BC Women's Hospital & Health Centre.

Seven teams responded to the BC Children's and BC Women's Hospitals redevelopment project Request for Qualifications, which closed on Feb. 26, 2013. Following the evaluation of the responses received, the three teams invited to move forward to the Request for Proposals stage are:

• Affinity Partnerships.

• Oak Street Health Partners.

• Plenary Health.

The Provincial Health Services Authority expects to select a preferred proponent by spring 2014. Construction of the new acute care centre is anticipated to get underway in winter 2014-15 with completion currently targeted for spring 2018.

"The acute care centre is an integral part of our health-care system and provides much needed specialized care for the sickest children and most complex obstetrical cases in British Columbia," said Health Minister Margaret MacDiarmid. "Today's shortlist announcement is another important milestone as we get closer to construction."

"Short listing these three highly qualified teams marks an important step forward for the BC Children's and BC Women's Redevelopment Project. It brings us one step closer to completing a project that will impact the lives of thousands of British Columbians for years to come," said Provincial Health Services Authority board chair, Wynne Powell.

The acute care centre will include inpatient units, an emergency department, medical imaging and procedural suites, hematology/oncology and pediatric intensive care for BC Children's Hospital. It will also include a high-risk labour and delivery suite and a new neonatal intensive care unit for BC Women's Hospital & Health Centre. The new design will emphasize the single occupant patient rooms, noise reduction features, access to natural light and views of nature, resulting in an improved healing environment.

The total cost of the redevelopment project is estimated at $680 million. Phase two is expected to cost between $500 million and $530 million and includes the acute care centre. The BC Children's Hospital Foundation has pledged to raise $200 million through the Campaign for BC Children with $150 million going toward the redevelopment project.

The acute care centre will enable doctors and nurses at BC Children's and BC Women's Hospitals to deliver the highest level of family-centred health-care services possible to the province's children, women and families.

The new building will be designed to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) gold standard and will optimize the use of wood in the interior and exterior of the building, consistent with the Wood First Act.

BC Children's Hospital provides expert care for the province's most seriously ill or injured children, along with a range of specialized services for children. BC Women's Hospital & Health Centre provides services for pregnant women, newborns, families and women with specialized health needs from throughout the province.

A backgrounder follows.

Media Contacts:

Ryan Jabs
Media Relations Manager
Ministry of Health
250 952-1887 (media line)

Provincial Health Services Authority
Media Pager
604-871-1887 (media line)

BACKGROUNDER

BC Children's and BC Women's Hospitals redevelopment project

The BC Children's and BC Women's Hospitals redevelopment project represents the largest capital investment in the history of health care in British Columbia.

The three shortlisted teams for the acute care centre are:

Affinity Partnerships

• Balfour Beatty
• Ledcor Group
• ZGF Architects LLP
• CEI Architecture
• Black and McDonald Limited

Oak Street Health Partners

• Innisfree Limited
• Laing O'Rourke
• Gracorp Capital Advisors Ltd
• IBI Group
• HKS Architects Ltd
• Graham Design Builders LP
• Serco Facilities Management Inc.

Plenary Health

• Plenary Group (Canada) Ltd
• Stantec Inc
• PCL Constructors Westcoast Inc
• Johnson Controls Canada LP

Learn More:

Information about the BC Children's and BC Women's Redevelopment Project is available at: www.newcw.ca.

Media Contacts:

Ryan Jabs
Media Relations Manager
Ministry of Health
250 952-1887 (media line)

Provincial Health Services Authority
Media Pager
604-871-1887 (media line)