HDR | CEI Architecture Associates Inc. Parkin Architects Ltd.(joint venture)
Size39,000 square metres
OwnerBC Ministry of Health
Structural EngineerBush, Bohlman & Partners LLP
Wood SupplierStructureCraft
Structural systemsHybrid / OtherPanellizedPost + beamPrefabricated
Project materialsGlue-laminated timber (Glulam)MillworkPanelingSiding
Visitors to Surrey Memorial Hospital are greeted by tree-like wood columns, each consisting of four thick glue-laminated timber (glulam) “branches” that extend from floor to ceiling and support a panelized atrium roof.
Visiting a hospital can be a stressful experience, so when the British Columbia Ministry of Health was designing the Surrey Memorial Hospital expansion, the architects were asked to come up with a warm, natural facility that would also meet rigorous building performance demands.
The Surrey hospital addition includes an emergency department with separate spaces for adult and pediatric care, along with a tower that hosts the Neonatal Centre of Excellence and much-needed patient rooms and beds for critical and intensive-care units.
Wood products and finishes used for the millwork, interior walls and acoustic panelling help to control airborne contaminants. They are easy to maintain and are low-emitting materials, meaning they reduce concentrations of chemicals and improve indoor air quality.
The bold, striking use of wood throughout the space—uncommon in such health-care settings—softens the hospital’s institutional feel and creates a calm, stress-reducing connection to nature. Wood is durable and stands up to weather, wear and tear, and rigorous maintenance.
Research on biophilic benefits of wood continues to grow, and one of British Columbia’s busiest hospitals leads the way in offering patients a comforting, supportive and healing environment.
“The use of exposed wood in a project is one of the ways that we can improve conditions for our patients. Wood conveys a sense of warmth and comfort that supports the healing environment and improves the overall patient experience.” Peter Goldthorpe – Vice President, Capital Projects Real Estate & Facilities, Fraser Health Providence Health Care
“The use of exposed wood in a project is one of the ways that we can improve conditions for our patients. Wood conveys a sense of warmth and comfort that supports the healing environment and improves the overall patient experience.”
Learn how using evidence-based design, healthcare architects are exploring the physiological benefits of biophilia in the design of indoor environments, including the Surrey Memorial Hospital Emergency Department + Critical Care Tower, in this case study.
