City Of Vaughan And Mackenzie Health Work Together To Develop Hospital Lands
The City of Vaughan and Mackenzie Health are entering into a Cooperation Agreement to continue to work together in developing the site for Vaughan’s new hospital during the second stage of the Provincial hospital planning process. This new agreement will see enhanced coordination of the City’s land development and servicing activities with respect to the Mackenzie Health Vaughan Hospital development planning activities.
“With a project of this magnitude, which will bring much-needed health services to Vaughan, it is important to have the input and cooperation of all the key participants,” said Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua. “We want to ensure that the citizens of Vaughan will have a state-of-the-art hospital located in a development that promotes well-being, sustainability and economic activity.”
“We are pleased to have an agreement that will foster a closer working relationship with the City of Vaughan as we work to complete Stage Two of the planning and design process for the new Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital,” says Dina Palozzi, Mackenzie Health Board Chair. “Working more closely together will help to ensure that we keep this project on schedule toward our projected start of construction in 2015/16.”
City of Vaughan Announces New Development Consultants
The City also recently retained the project management firm Prism Partners Inc. to lead the City's land development team, whose work in preparing the 82-acre site will be closely coordinated with Mackenzie Health, the regional health care provider responsible for the new Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital.
As Development Facilitator, Prism Partners brings extensive experience in the planning and servicing of hospital development projects to the City’s land development team which includes the professional planning firm of Malone Given Parsons Ltd. and Cole Engineering Group Ltd. who have been working with the City since the spring of 2012. The current focus of the team is to complete the Precinct Plan for the area located north of Major Mackenzie Drive, between Highway 400 and Jane Street.
The Precinct Plan will identify the road network and access locations, transit facilities, and services such as sewers and water supply. It will also guide the architectural, landscape and urban design character of the site, measures to incorporate sustainable eco-leadership initiatives, and the phasing of development.
“Planning for the development of the lands is a significant project for Vaughan,” said City Manager Clayton Harris. “In addition to preparing the lands for a new hospital, the City will focus on the future economic benefits of the site, which in turn adds value for the residents of Vaughan."
The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has provided approval to Mackenzie Health (formerly York Central Hospital) to build the new Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital. Mackenzie Health is on track to complete Stage 2 of the capital process in the Spring of 2013 and tendering of the hospital project in the 2014/15 provincial fiscal year.
Mackenzie Health Announces Planning and Architectural Firms
Agnew Peckham and Associates and Zeidler Partnership Architects were retained to assist with the extensive work needed to complete Stage 2 planning. Both firms bring significant healthcare planning experience which includes working on new hospital developments. The firms were awarded contracts after a competitive request for proposal process in keeping with government procurement guidelines.
The project remains on schedule and the focus remains on delivering a comprehensive Stage 2 submission to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and the Central Local Health Integration Network in early 2013. This will ensure Mackenzie Health is on track with its estimated date of completion for the Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital of 2018/19.
Working very closely with Mackenzie Health, Agnew Peckham and Associates are tasked with helping define the planned healthcare services as part of the new hospital along with the associated staffing and space requirements required for these services. Zeidler Partnership Architects will be creating the architectural plans required for Stage 2 planning.
The engagement of these two firms signifies the ongoing progress towards delivering Vaughan’s first hospital.