Opening The SickKids Patient Support Centre
Creating A Bold Future Together
The new Patient Support Centre (PSC) is the first major step of Project Horizon, a multi-year campus transformation for The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids). For close to half a decade, B+H was focused on the design and development of this new training, education, and administrative tower and on September 28, 2023, B+H and PCL Construction joined SickKids, SickKids Foundation and partners to celebrate this monumental occasion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Representing the team at B+H, Patrick Fejér, CEO, spoke about how our mission as architects was to create an architectural framework for a modern workplace environment that supports and inspires staff.
To do this, we took a data driven approach, dedicated our focus on the users and carefully considered the perception of the building from the exterior. We tested different scenarios, prototypes, and solutions for how this building can support the needs of healthcare providers, foster collaboration, and help accelerate innovation. – Patrick Fejér, CEO
The B+H team facilitated design engagement sessions with patients that informed the bold Crayola yellow colour of the exterior façade to design a building that is approachable, comforting and transparent, revealing caregivers in action. We were able to bring concepts, sketches and renderings to life to create a truly welcoming interior environment and a tower that integrates with the surrounding urban landscape. The centerpiece of the building is the rainbow-ribbon staircase that exposes the inner workings of the building from the outside. The education and simulation spaces below us introduce state-of-the-art technology for staff and families to hone their skills and deliver high quality care.
Throughout the design of this building, we never lost sight of the potential to care for caregivers. The PSC delivers wellness spaces for staff, a rooftop terrace respite, and other amenities that give way for staff to bring their best selves forward. It also stands as a contribution to the local community as a beacon of hope.
As the first phase of Project Horizon, the SickKids Patient Support Centre sets the tone for this crucial redevelopment plan. One that aims to build an inspired, re-imagined hospital of the future.