Ottawa Hospital sharing design for new Civic Campus as it’s through another planning stage

The Ottawa Hospital is sharing proposed designs for its new Civic Campus as it says it's one step closer to building what it calls “one of the largest and most advanced hospitals in Canada.” 

The designs were part of stage 2 of the capital planning process for the hospital's new development, which was submitted to the Ontario Ministry of Health earlier this spring. 

Slated to open in 2028, the hospital says its new Civic Campus “will be a state-of-the-art facility, home to the most advanced trauma centre, one of the most innovative neuroscience research programs in the world and will have some of the most advanced digital technology to enable medical personnel to provide patients with the most effective new treatments and services.”

“People in our region will come to this new facility for compassionate, skilled care,” said Katherine Cotton, Chair of The Ottawa Hospital’s Board of Governors. “The new treatments and technologies that will be used and developed here will save lives and advance and revolutionize health care. This hospital is the future of health care.”

The main hospital building, including the emergency department, inpatient and outpatient clinics, will sit on the top of the escarpment across from Dow’s Lake. Additional clinic space, medical offices, research and education buildings, and a parking garage will be located on the lower portion of the site, all connected to the nearby LRT station.

Patients and visitors driving to the site will enter from Carling Avenue and follow a short driveway up the escarpment to a circular drop-off at the front door. The same driveway will have a turnoff for the emergency department, located one floor beneath grade below the front door, under a covered green roof.

Separate, dedicated entrances are planned for emergency vehicles, staff, materials management and servicing to allow for efficient traffic flow through the site and on surrounding roadways.

“We're excited to move forward with the next stages of the new civic development. This development will be a pivotal marker for the transformation of health care for the Ottawa region for generations to come,” said President and CEO of The Ottawa Hospital Cameron Love. “We will continue to work closely with our municipal, provincial and federal governments as well as our community, throughout this stage of planning. We’re very grateful for their partnership and support as we move forward.”

The project is estimated to cost $2.8-billion. The Ministry of Health’s share is $2.1-billion, and the hospital says additional funding will be raised locally through other avenues such as fundraising.

Public consultation will take place in the coming months in Ottawa, and across the region, to enable members of the public to ask questions and provide feedback on the proposal.

Construction of the new hospital campus is expected to create up to 20,000 jobs, as well as ancillary businesses, research and training opportunities, and health investments. The hospital also believes the new facility will attract health-care providers, researchers and students from around the world.