Project Description

Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre is a 650,000 square foot, acute care facility serving Thunder Bay and much of Northwestern Ontario. The hospital has 340 acute care beds, all of its patient rooms are handicapped accessible and the facility is air-conditioned with "negative pressure" rooms to accommodate those in isolation. The complex also includes the 68,000 square Regional Cancer Centre, forensic mental health, a helicopter pad and base hospital facilities.

Tom Jones Corporation worked in Joint Venture with Ellis-Don Corporation to complete the 3-year project.

Celebrating the distinctive culture and heritage of the region was achieved through the extensive use of wood as a structural material in dramatic spaces that are flooded with natural light.

The striking design reflects local roots in the lumber industry and the structures of historic railway connections. After  extensive consultation with fire and municipal officials, this hospital was the first to use of heavy timber in a Canadian institutional setting.   
 
TBRHSC is the first cancer centre in Canada to incorporate direct natural light skylights within the cancer radiation treatment rooms. It was one of the first new hospitals in Ontario to incorporate passive solar energy and environmental design solutions.

In addition to being acclaimed internationally as benchmark for progressive human-centric hospital design, this project was recognized as one of the most technically advanced facilities in the world.