QEII Halifax Infirmary Expansion Enters Main Construction Phase
A rendering of how the acute-care tower project could look, subject to change.
Nova Scotians are another step closer to a new, modern acute care tower with more beds and operating rooms and a larger emergency department at the QEII Halifax Infirmary, delivering more care, faster for generations.
The next phase of construction will soon begin, with the government finalizing an agreement with Plenary PCL Health to build the tower. The new tower is expected to be fully complete and open to patients and providers in the fall of 2031.
“This is an exciting milestone for the future of healthcare in our province. This is the largest healthcare infrastructure project ever undertaken in Atlantic Canada,” said Health and Wellness Minister Michelle Thompson. “It will ensure generations of Nova Scotians get the cutting-edge care they deserve, provide a modern workplace for the dedicated staff at the QEII, and help us attract and hire the healthcare staff we need.”
The Province’s agreement with Plenary PCL Health includes construction of the 14-floor tower and its maintenance over 30 years, beginning at substantial completion in the fall of 2030. The project’s total cost between now and 2061 will be $7.4 billion.
Enabling work to prepare the site for construction has been underway since last spring and the project is on schedule. In May, tower cranes will be erected and work on the foundation will begin.
When complete, the new tower will add 216 beds, 16 operating rooms, a 48-bed intensive care unit and an emergency department that is nearly twice the size of the current one. It will also have state-of-the-art equipment, a satellite diagnostic imaging department in the emergency department, new and upgraded lab spaces and additional treatment spaces.
Some health services now delivered at the QEII Victoria General site will move to new and renovated spaces at the Halifax Infirmary site when they open.
The QEII Halifax Infirmary expansion is one element of More, Faster: The Action for Health Build, the government’s comprehensive plan for improving healthcare services for Nova Scotians.
Developing modern healthcare infrastructure will help Nova Scotia become a magnet for health providers, provide the care Nova Scotians need and deserve, and cultivate excellence on the front lines, all of which are solutions under Action for Health.
Quotes:
“This is another transformative step forward for Nova Scotia Health. The QEII Halifax Infirmary’s new acute care tower will decrease wait times and improve access to care for all Nova Scotians.”
— Karen Oldfield, interim President and CEO, Nova Scotia Health
“The QEII Halifax Infirmary expansion will strengthen our healthcare system in many ways, including state-of-the-art, efficient new care spaces that better meet the needs of our staff and physicians. This new facility will enhance our physical capacity to provide care, while also equipping our teams with advanced tools and technology to deliver high-quality services to Nova Scotians.”
— Dr. Christine Short, Senior Medical Director, QEII Healthcare Redevelopment, Central Zone, Nova Scotia Health
“PCL Construction is excited to move forward with the next stage of the Halifax Infirmary expansion project. We remain dedicated to helping the Province build this new healthcare facility designed specifically to meet the needs of Nova Scotians. We’re looking forward to bringing the province’s vision for the project to life.”
— Paul Knowles, Senior Vice-President and District Manager, PCL Construction
“This project reflects our unwavering commitment at Build Nova Scotia to provide a top-quality healthcare facility that delivers value for money while prioritizing the well-being of the people it serves and the dedicated people who work there.”
— David Benoit, President and CEO, Build Nova Scotia
“We are proud to have reached this milestone on the QEII Halifax Infirmary Expansion Project, which will expand and modernize this healthcare facility and improve patient care. We’d like to thank our provincial partners for their dedication to this project, and we look forward to delivering a contemporary, welcoming space for patients, health professionals and visitors.”
— Brian Budden, President and CEO, Plenary Americas
Quick Facts:
- work completed to date includes:
- moving the main entrance to Summer Street
- moving the emergency department driveway and parking to Bell Road
- building a new, expanded magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) suite
- demolishing the parkade on Robie Street
- building a new parkade on Summer Street
- doing preliminary site excavation and preparation and rock removal
- the new tower’s foundation and concrete structure for the main floor are expected to be complete by the end of the year
- Nova Scotia Health staff and physicians have provided input on the new facility’s design
- through the More, Faster: Action for Health Build plan, construction of various healthcare projects are happening at the same time by breaking them into more manageable pieces
Additional Resources:
More information on the Halifax Infirmary expansion project is available at: https://buildns.ca/healthcare/hiep/
More information on other healthcare infrastructure projects: https://buildns.ca/healthcare/more-faster-the-action-for-health-build/
News release – Major Healthcare Expansion Includes More Services, More Locations: https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2022/12/15/major-healthcare-expansion-includes-more-services-more-locations
Action for Health: https://novascotia.ca/actionforhealth/