Western Memorial Regional Hospital demonstrates the outcome of prioritizing sustainable design and construction and how the healthcare industry can make strides towards a resilient future. Home to the largest geothermal heating and cooling system incorporated into a Canadian healthcare project to date and the third largest system worldwide, the seven-story hospital features an innovative approach to design, operational and environmental solutions.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certified, the hospital features a functional design focused on providing a comfortable, climate resilient facility for its occupants. The new build includes a high performing thermal resistant design, resulting in a reduction in the hospital’s overall energy consumption. Western Memorial Regional Hospital exemplifies excellence in sustainable design from co-location to purposeful wellness-centric design choices.

The project team and local workforce was a vital factor of Western Memorial Regional Hospital’s successful completion. 90% of our workforce consisted of local tradespeople from over 60 different hometowns across the province. The collaboration between the clients, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services (NLHS) and the Corner Brook Health Partnership team was key in bringing the vision of a modern and sustainable complex P3 project to life.

Just 600 feet below the hospital’s parking lot lies a geothermal field that makes 100% ground source geothermal heating for the hospital possible – the first such solution of its kind for a healthcare facility in North America. This geothermal field is the largest geothermal heating and cooling system incorporated into a Canadian healthcare project to date and the third largest system nationwide. A geothermal system solution was purposefully chosen to help achieve significant energy reduction and operating cost savings across the hospital’s lifespan. 

The solution provided an expected annual energy savings premium of 15-20%. That combined with operation expenditure savings over the life span of 30 years yields approximately 12% total cost savings. The savings would only continue to grow over time, making the geo-exchange solution the best financial choice for the project. The air source and ground source heat pump systems, using the air or ground to reject and absorb heat, have more than double the thermal efficiency than a modern gas heating system and an electrical resistance heating system.

With a depth of up to 600 feet, 375 vertical bore holes were drilled into the field for the loop system installation. Once the horizontal piping was installed to connect a series of geo-exchange wells, the lines were pressure tested. Each line was tested to ensure a PSI of 100 for a duration of at least 24 hours. Once the correct pressure level was met, the lines were flushed to remove debris before pumping an antifreeze water solution through the closed loop system.

To combat the unpredictable weather conditions of Atlantic Canada, the project team was driven to find a cost-efficient method to enclose the hospital as quickly as possible. From extensive research to full-scale mock-ups, the team pulled out all the stops to successfully install 1,069 exterior wall panels across the regional hospital facility.

To deliver the modular solution, the team encountered the challenge of manufacturing wall panels off-site without compromising quality or performance. Fabricated to fit the unique interferences of the building, they designed the wall panels based on the project consultant’s modelling and building design. Organizing two assembly lines and multiple manufacturing stations, the team was a well-oiled machine, completing the framing, exterior sheathing, and air vapor barrier installation, all prior to preparing the components for shipping. 

Originally planned to be installed from outside of the structure, this team of solution providers used the power of collaboration to develop an in-depth building enclosure plan. The wall panels were erected from the inside of the building and fastened to the slab to ensure safe, efficient installation. This solution allowed the team to complete paneling on more than half a floor within a day. This effective enclosure program almost negated the need for temporary winter enclosures/tarping.