Summary

• The new Jim Pattison Acute Care Tower will be open to patients on May 31, 2026, at Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster
• The tower will feature a new, modern emergency department, expanded medical/surgical inpatient units, new cardiac care units, new operating rooms and interventional suites, along with enhanced maternity and newborn services
• The tower will provide 388 patient beds providing care for thousands more people annually

__________

The new Jim Pattison Acute Care Tower at Royal Columbian Hospital will open for patients on May 31, 2026, bringing quicker access to specialized, life-saving treatment to people in the Lower Mainland and throughout the province.

“This new tower at Royal Columbian Hospital will give people throughout B.C. faster access to specialized, life-saving care, with a new emergency department, expanded inpatient units, modern operating rooms and enhanced cardiac, maternity and newborn services,” said Bowinn Ma, Minister of Infrastructure. “It builds on Phase 1 of the hospital redevelopment, which opened in early 2020, and added a new mental- health centre, inpatient beds, seniors care, and advanced medical technology. Investments in modern health facilities are creating more space for care and helping people get treatment when they need it most.”

Advancing health services for people in B.C.

Once the new tower opens, Royal Columbian Hospital will be the only hospital in B.C. with expanded trauma, cardiac care, neurosurgery, high-risk obstetrics, neonatal intensive care and acute mental health care on one site.

The new 388-bed, 10-storey tower will feature : 

• a new, larger emergency department with 75 treatment spaces and a satellite medical imaging unit that will reduce travel times for procedures
• a 47-bed intensive care unit, featuring a dedicated smudging room to provide a culturally safe space for Indigenous families
• a new 17-bed cardiac intensive care unit
• medical inpatient beds spanning five floors
• 48-bed obstetrics unit, co-located with a neonatal intensive care unit, which will include two obstetrical operating rooms
• 17 new operating rooms and interventional radiology and cardiac suites that will connect to the existing Health Care Centre to create an interventional “super floor”
• modern medical device reprocessing department
• a 356-stall underground parkade, and a 117-stall surface parking lot

The tower will open in two stages.

On May 31, the hospital will launch the new emergency department, medical-surgical inpatient units, intensive care unit, cardiac intensive care unit, satellite medical imaging, main entrance and parking facilities.

This fall, the obstetrics unit, pediatrics unit, neonatal intensive care unit, operating rooms, interventional radiology and cardiology suites, and a cardiac surgery intensive care unit will open.

Phase 1 of the Royal Columbian Hospital redevelopment opened in 2020. It included a new mental-health and substance-use wellness centre (with inpatient and outpatient services, including a specialized unit for seniors care), energy centre and parkade. This phase expanded access to mental-health and substance-use care and improved hospital services and facilities.

“As a grateful patient of Royal Columbian Hospital, it makes me incredibly happy that the new Jim Pattison Acute Care Tower will help expand their existing neuroscience and neurology departments,” said Jasmine Martin, a former neurosurgery patient. “It makes me even happier to know that more patients like me will now have access to more treatment spaces.”

Indigenous partners helped shape the design of the new tower, ensuring it reflects the needs and values of the people it serves. Natural materials, calming colours and access to daylight were chosen to support healing and reduce stress during hospital stays.

“People in New Westminster and throughout the province will benefit from the increased capacity, advanced technology, and thoughtfully designed spaces in the new acute care tower,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “Patients and families were involved throughout the design process and will benefit from enhanced health-care services in spaces that support patient safety, privacy and comfort.”

Investing in the future of health care

The new tower is the second phase of the Royal Columbian Hospital redevelopment project. Phase 1 included the opening of the mental-health and substance-use wellness centre and energy centre. Phase 2 and 3 of the redevelopment are estimated to be nearly $2 billion with contributions from the Province, Fraser Health and the Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation. The tower is named after well-known business leader and philanthropist Jim Pattison, who donated $30 million to the project.

Phase 3 will include upgrades to the existing health-care centre and Columbia Tower to support the beds and services added in Phase 2. Those renovations are expected to be complete in 2029.

Since 2017, the Province has provided $14 billion to upgrade and build 30 new hospitals, and health-care facilities, as well as 37 long-term care facilities and four cancer centres to support people in British Columbia. The Jim Pattison Acute Care Tower is part of the Province’s broader commitment to strengthen the health-care system and ensure people in the Lower Mainland and beyond have access to the care they need. 

Quotes:

Jennifer Whiteside, MLA for New Westminster –

“As the oldest hospital in BC, Royal Columbian Hospital has long played a vital role in caring for the communities in New Westminster, the region, and province. I am delighted that the dedicated health-care teams at Royal Columbian Hospital will continue to provide exceptional quality patient care at the new Jim Pattison Acute Care Tower. This state-of-the-art hospital is the result of the hard work of thousands of workers whose efforts will bring greater access to health care and improve the lives of patients and families for generations to come.”

Dermot Kelly, president and CEO, Fraser Health –

“Today’s announcement is about the people and families who will receive care here, the teams who will support them, and the many partners who helped bring the Jim Pattison Acute Care Tower to life. This new, modern facility expands access to specialized care for our growing communities and strengthens our ability to meet their needs now and into the future. Thank you to our staff, medical staff, partners, and community for making this possible and for the care you provide every day.”

Jeff Norris, president and CEO, Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation –

"This moment reflects the collective efforts of many, including thousands of generous donors who believe in the future of care at Royal Columbian Hospital. We are deeply grateful for their support, and proud to celebrate the dedicated teams whose years of planning, collaboration and commitment have brought the Jim Pattison Acute Care Tower to life. Together, we are opening the door to a new era of care for British Columbians.”

Patrick Johnstone, mayor, New Westminster –

“The opening of the Jim Pattison Acute Care Tower marks a major investment in health care for New Westminster and the entire region. For more than 160 years, Royal Columbian Hospital has been a vital part of our community, providing care and support to generations of residents. This expansion will ensure people across our growing region continue to have access to the high-quality health-care services they need, now and into the future.”

Learn More:

• More information about the Royal Columbian Hospital Redevelopment Project: https://www.fraserhealth.ca/capital-projects/projects/royal-columbian-hospital
• Link to B-roll: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/sold0ybfxlwtsoulsq9db/AKHEx1W74tyl6OtqgADvFDc?rlkey=udrydah3odaea72d3px4d7151&st=1orrvcrq&dl=0 (can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com)

A backgrounder follows.