St. Mary’s Hospital addition – renamed the Sechelt / Shíshálh Hospital in honour of the rich cultural heritage of the Sunshine Coast’s Indigenous peoples – is a testament to the benefits of interdisciplinary design collaboration, and the power of one’s built environment to positively impact healing.
The addition expanded the footprint of the existing hospital’s emergency department, diagnostic imaging, ambulatory care, and added two new floors of inpatient accommodation. Old and new construction were seamlessly linked via the expansive lobby.
Fast + Epp’s structural role included the design and review of cast-in-place concrete slabs, columns and shear walls, as well as minor structural renovations to the existing hospital wing. In a bid to be North America’s first carbon-neutral healthcare facility, the project utilizes passive design strategies, a high-performance double building envelope (which maximized the facility’s energy performance), and a green roof. Special care was paid to ensure disaster preparedness, infection control and universal design.
The hospital showcases healthcare and sustainability best practices in an impressive way, with single-occupancy patient rooms, generous glazing for natural light (with operable windows), and a welcoming entry with warm wood tones. The project’s curved corners reference Indigenous cedar bentwood chests, used to hold sacred items.