Northern Health is pleased to announce that the preferred proponent team for the design and construction of the University Hospital of Northern British Columbia (UHNBC) Acute Care Tower Project is:
- EllisDon Corporation – Construction
EllisDon is a Canadian, employee-owned construction and building services company headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario. - DIALOG BC Architecture Engineering and Interior Design Planning Inc. – Design
DIALOG is a Canadian design firm specializing in architecture, engineering, and urban planning.
This transformative $1.579 billion project will deliver a new acute care tower to enhance surgical, cardiac, and mental health and substance use services for residents across Northern B.C. Construction is expected to begin in fall 2026.
The project is being delivered using an Alliance Contract, which brings together the owner, designers, and contractors into a single, collaborative team. This approach ensures all parties are aligned and committed to the project’s success from the outset.
“This project represents a major step forward for people in Northern B.C., who deserve timely access to care close to home,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “The selection of the preferred proponent for design and construction takes us one step closer to construction, which will mean more surgical, cardiac, and mental health supports when and where people need them.
“The Acute Care Tower at UHNBC will be more than just a new building — it will be a place where families throughout northern B.C. can access better care, closer to home, while supporting good local jobs and stronger communities,” said Bowinn Ma, Minister of Infrastructure. “Congratulations to our project partners – we’re proud to be working together to build a healthier future for people across the province.”
“I’m very grateful to all of our partners including the Fraser-Fort George Regional Hospital District and the Province of B.C. for their support in getting us to this stage,” said Colleen Nyce, Board Chair of Northern Health. “This investment helps to ensure services can improve and expand in response to the evolving needs of patients and to support health care recruitment and retention in the North.”
The Fraser-Fort George Regional Hospital District has played a key role in supporting the project. Joan Atkinson, Chair of the RHD, noted: “The UHNBC Acute Care Tower will address the crucial need for enhanced critical health care services in the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George and all Northern B.C. We are deeply invested in supporting our residents’ health and well-being and we are excited to see progress on this project that will strengthen our regional health care system for generations to come.”
Jeff Good, Vice President – Alliance & Stakeholder Relations, at Infrastructure BC, highlighted the benefits of the Alliance Contract: “The success of the Alliance procurement model continues to demonstrate the power of a truly collaborative approach to delivering complex health care infrastructure. The UHNBC Acute Care Tower Alliance marks the fourth major health care facility in British Columbia to be delivered through this model, building on the strong foundation and lessons learned from previous projects. We’re proud to be part of this integrated team, working with our Alliance partners to meet the expectations of Northern Health, the Province of B.C., and the residents the facility will serve. Together, we are delivering more than just a building, we’re creating a legacy of partnership and innovation in health care delivery.”
Aimee Cassie, CEO of the Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation, added: “We are grateful to the Fraser-Fort George Regional Hospital District and the Ministry of Health for recognizing this need and bringing the project to this stage. The addition of interventional cardiac care — along with expanded surgical and mental health services — is the next step for Northern B.C. in advancing health care in our region, and we look forward to this project coming to fruition, improving access to care for generations to come.”
The next phase in the procurement process is the selection of the Electrical and Mechanical Alliance participants, which is anticipated to be completed by December 2025. The four Alliance partners, along with Northern Health and Infrastructure BC, will then enter the Alliance Development Phase, which will continue through to fall 2026. The Northern Interior Health Unit relocation is estimated for spring 2026, construction of the tower is expected to begin in fall 2026, and the tower is projected to open for patients in winter 2031.