Pandemic Response Units: Joseph Brant Hospital, Trillium Health Partners Mississauga Hospital and Royal Victoria Health Centre


Joseph Brant Hospital

In the spring of 2020, Cumulus worked with Joseph Brant Hospital to construct a solution for surge capacity in response to the growing threat of COVID-19. In just 14 days, the 8,250 square-foot Pandemic Response Unit was constructed on hospital grounds - the first structure of its kind in the province. The temporary unit expands regional bed capacity by 93 beds.

The Pandemic Response Unit was built to care for stable COVID-19 patients who require care that cannot be provided at home, such as oxygen therapy and medication, as well as ongoing monitoring of their symptoms and some personal support. A stay in the PRU will ensure they receive the care and support they need to complete their recovery in an inpatient unit designed specifically to provide this type of COVID-19 care before returning to their home communities. At later stages in the pandemic the space was repurposed for scaling up vaccination efforts.

Project Team: BLT Construction Services, Sprung Structure, Mulvey & Banani, HIDI Group, Code Next

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Trillium Health Partners, Mississauga Hospital, Pandemic Response Unit

The Mississauga facility was designed to accommodate non-ambulatory patients with stays potentially extending to several weeks. Cumulus, having successfully completed a similar facility at Joseph Brant, were familiar with the structure and brought greater detail on interior planning given the specific features that were unique relative to THP proposed care delivery requirements including acute care accommodation. The unit can hold up to 80-plus patients. This modular design was erected approximately one month after the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic, and only two weeks after the first project initiation call. With Public Health Ontario estimating between 12,000 - 80,000 cases province-wide within 30 days THP also explored options of two additional tents.

Project Team: BLT Construction, Sprung Structure, Mulvey & Banani International Inc., HIDI Group, CodeNext

Royal Victoria Hospital

Designed to serve as a regional resource for an extended catchment area covering Simcoe, Dufferin and Muskoka, this temporary unit will operate as a fully functional field hospital, professionally staffed and equipped to deliver safe, quality care. The modular structure will accommodate around 70 beds. Each bed will be outfitted with a modular wall system for privacy with head walls serviced with piped oxygen, a call bell system for patient assistance and localized lighting. Staff workstations are distributed in three central locations to promote flow and efficiency. A separate interconnected tent will provide patient washrooms and bathing. The unit will be ready for occupancy in late May. 

This unit differs from the previous two facilities constructed in Burlington and Mississauga, this structure is designed with double walled construction to provide a fully insulated envelope to allow for year-round occupancy. 

The project was funded by Ontario Health with construction overseen by Infrastructure Ontario.

Project Team: BLT Construction, Mulvey & Banani International Inc., HIDI Group, CodeNext, Colliers Project Leaders