Design makes access to natural light and the outdoors fundamental to patient health
Like any city that is reaching a new level of livability, Selkirk, Manitoba has grown to need significant health services and facilities for local residents and those living in the region. The new two-storey, state-of-the-art, LEED Gold Selkirk Regional Health Centre (SRHC) is a 184,000 square foot regional healthcare hub, offering everything from a birthing centre, dialysis, surgery, cancer care, MRI diagnostics and outpatient programs, serving the Interlake region.
By James Orlikow
The Centre features an interior contemplation courtyard with a light sculpture, three accessible roof terraces; and a green roof that is overlooked from patient bedrooms. The landscape and building connect seamlessly through an active, south-facing, family/staff courtyard with a sun deck and outdoor ‘kitchen’.
With a focus on having as much natural light as possible in the building, glazed curtain walls are located in all public areas, starting at the front entrance and completely surrounding the contemplation courtyard as a ‘light well’ wayfinding feature.
The colours and finishes of the building echo the water, sky and earth of the Interlake region. Shades of aqua and warm terra cotta balance the golden buff Tyndall stone walls. The first and last impression at every threshold on the site.
Selkirk Regional Health Centre is a replacement facility required due to the premature obsolescence of the existing 1980s hospital. Accordingly, SRHC strives for durability, maintainability, and sustainability within a responsible economic framework. The site configuration, building placement, and orientation responds to the program needs; connectivity to the adjacent health campus; future pedestrian linkages; land drainage requirements; and the horizontal loop geothermal system.
Beyond the functional drivers, SHRC’s strategic planning and design aspirations were ‘access to natural light and outdoor spaces’ for all patients, families and staff.
The SRHC campus transforms 12 hectares of vacant commercial lands, of which more than six hectares have been converted to naturalized parkland and another hectare to xeroscaped plazas and courtyards. In addition, the building has a 250m2 green roof.
A network of passive stormwater management features such as dry stream beds, bioswales, and seasonal retention areas work in concert with carefully sited buildings, shelterbelts, and low-mow grassland areas. This forms the framework for all of the other opens spaces on site while managing 100% of the stormwater generated by the new development and creating optimum microclimates that extend public use of the grounds to all seasons. The development re-establishes the pre-existing aspen forest, tall-grass prairie and wetland ecozones of the Interlake on site.
The constant volume air delivery systems comply with CSA Z317.2 ventilation standard for healthcare facilities. Fresh air rates outlined in the CSA standard ensures indoor air quality to enhance patient recovery and the wellness of occupants. Most regularly occupied spaces are located on the perimeter of the building allowing access to daylight and views.
PROJECT CREDITS
- Owner/Developer Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority
- Prime Consultant LM Architectural Group
- General Contractor Ellis Don
- Associate Architect Stantec Architecture Ltd.
- Landscape Architect HTFC Planning & Design
- Civil Engineer/LEED Advisor MMM Group WSP
- Electrical Engineer MCW / AGE Consultants Ltd
- Mechanical Engineer SMS Engineering Ltd.
- Structural Engineer Crosier, Kilgour & Partners Ltd.
- Commissioning Agent Demand Side Energy Consultants
- Interior Design Environmental Space Planning
- Photos Gerry Kopelow
PROJECT PERFORMANCE
- Energy intensity (building and process energy) = 361.9KWhr/m²/year
- Energy intensity reduction relative to reference building under MNECB 1997 = 54%
- Water consumption from municipal sources = 1,487 litres/occupant/year
- Reduction in water consumption relative to reference building under LEED = 43%
- Recycled material content by value = 23.67%
- Regional materials (800km radius) by value = 10.95%
- Construction waste diverted from landfill = 63%
James Orlikow, FRAIC, Principal in Charge of the SRHC Project; Senior Advisor at LM Architectural Group, Winnipeg.
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