HN Summary
• Sustainable, Low-Impact Design: The new West Lincoln Memorial Hospital (WLMH) in Grimsby, opening November 24, is targeting LEED Silver certification, featuring energy-efficient systems, low-VOC materials, solar panels, water-saving fixtures, and recycling 75% of construction waste to reduce environmental impact.
• Health and Safety Innovations: Built with pandemic preparedness in mind, the hospital includes advanced HVAC systems, private patient rooms, modular pods for isolation, and infection-control features to prevent airborne disease spread, as well as a below-ground snow-melt system and flood-prevention measures.
• Community-Centered Landscaping: The hospital integrates greenspace, over 100 new trees, walking paths, and play areas into the downtown site, combining aesthetics, flood control, and comfort for visitors, while fostering a sense of connection with the local community.
When Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) opens the new West Lincoln Memorial Hospital (WLMH) in Grimsby on November 24, it will be one of the most sustainably designed health-care facilities in the region, and one of the safest too, thanks to special features for managing widespread disease outbreaks.
“LEEDing” the way
The new WLMH is on track to earn LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver certification for being an environmentally responsible and resource-efficient building.
The globally recognized LEED program evaluates buildings on a point-based system across several categories including energy conservation, water efficiency, indoor air quality, flood prevention, and diverting waste from landfill. The new WLMH will be one of only two hospitals in the Niagara region to have earned LEED Silver certification, with the St. Catharines hospital achieving this milestone several years ago.
“Working towards achieving LEED Silver certification for our new West Lincoln Memorial Hospital reflects Hamilton Health Sciences’ commitment to sustainable practices such as reduced energy use, lower carbon emissions, and a healthier environment for our patients, staff and doctors,” says Jennifer Robinson, director of redevelopment projects at HHS.
With environmental considerations top-of-mind, the new three-story, 14,000 square-metre WLMH will produce half the carbon dioxide emissions of the original hospital. Even its parking lot is playing a role, with six dedicated parking spaces for electric vehicles, and charging stations.
Environmental commitment
It’s challenging for hospitals to be low-carbon or energy efficient because they’re large, high-intensity buildings that run 24/7.
“Globally, health care is responsible for about five per cent of all carbon emissions, which is higher than the airline industry,” says Victoria Brzozowski, environmental management lead for HHS. Brzozowski is part of the HHS team working to make environmental improvements to HHS hospital sites, including the new build.
“As anchor institutions, hospitals are deeply rooted in their communities, making them leaders when it comes to local stability, economic growth, and community development,” she says. “That’s why it’s vital that we lead by example, and operate in a low-impact and sustainable way.”
Less to landfill
About 75 per cent of construction waste from the new build is being kept out of landfill, largely due to recycling efforts. For example, bins were set up for sorting and collecting scrap construction materials such as concrete, steel, gypsum board and cardboard.
“These materials were sorted, so they could be streamed back to recycling facilities instead of being dumped into a landfill,” says Brent Whiteley, a principal architect with Parkin, the architectural firm that designed the building.
Automatic tinting windows, solar panels
Priorities for construction included using products with low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) – the chemicals found in finishes such as paint, glue and stains that easily evaporate into the air and can impact indoor and outdoor air quality. “For example, we’re using rubber flooring in the building, which is a natural, low-VOC product,” says Whiteley.
The new hospital includes windows that reduce heat from the sun using smart, tint-changing glass to keep the interior cool without compromising natural light. A water-cooled system helps recover and reuse heat during the first stage of air conditioning, boosting energy efficiency. Ultra low-flow toilets and urinals, along with low-flow sensor faucets and showerheads, are expected to cut indoor water use by up to 60 per cent compared to standard fixtures. The building also has dedicated waste sorting areas indoors, to handle the sorting of materials like recyclables, food waste, hazardous wastes, cardboard, glass, and electronic waste such as batteries and old devices.
As for the exterior, the roof’s solar panels will supply about five per cent of the building’s energy needs. There’s also an electronic leak-detection system in the roof, so any leaks can be caught early and fixed.
In winter months, the hospital’s main entrance and emergency department entrance will remain clear of snow and ice thanks to a below-ground snow-melt system. As well as helping to prevent slips and falls, the system eliminates the need for road salt, which saves vegetation and prevents water pollution from runoff.
Troubleshooting a flood plain through teamwork
The Parkin team worked closely with the hospital’s staff, doctors, leadership and community partners when planning the new WLMH, says Brzozowski. This collaborative approach helped Parkin find solutions to decades-long challenges with the original building, such as chronic flooding.
The original WLMH, and the new hospital located just a few metres behind it, were both built on a flood plain, and maintenance staff has spent countless hours over the years dealing with flooding. These same staff members shared their experiences with the Parkin team, so flood-prevention strategies could be incorporated into the new build.
The new parking lot will have bioswales — shallow, landscaped channels that collect and absorb rainwater — and an underground storm water retention system will manage the flow of storm water.
Pandemic-minded design
“The new hospital was designed during the COVID-19 pandemic, so this was very top-of-mind,” adds Whiteley.
The advanced heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system plays a critical role in preventing the spread of airborne diseases by controlling how air moves, is filtered, and exchanged in the building. The HVAC system also helps contain infectious particles in designated isolation rooms, including one room in the emergency department, two rooms in the C-ward inpatient unit on the third floor, and one room in the post-anesthesia care unit.
All inpatient rooms for hospitalized patients are private, allowing for easier isolation to limit virus spread. Patient rooms are grouped in modular pods that can be quickly sealed off if a cluster of infections arises; and non-clinical areas can be quickly converted into testing, triage, or treatment zones to support a rapid response during a crisis.
Landscaping details beautiful and practical
“The new hospital is very unique, because it’s built in the middle of town,” says Whiteley, adding that most new hospitals are built on the outskirts, much like airports.
When the existing WLMH is torn down, it will be replaced with greenspace, giving the new hospital a large, parklike front lawn facing Main Street that includes walking paths, a children’s play area and large art installations.
Over 100 new trees will be planted for their beauty, shade and flood prevention qualities. Hardy plant species along with a smart-drip irrigation system will reduce maintenance and water demand. Extending the tree canopy into the new parking lot will help keep the area cooler, making it more comfortable for visitors during hot summer months.
“The way that the landscaping has been integrated into the site is really going to enhance the community,” says Whiteley. “It’s really going to feel like part of the downtown core.”