Lakeridge Health, PCL Construction, and Infrastructure Ontario Mark a Month of Milestones for the New Long-Term Care Home in Ajax
Announcement of the Home’s Name and Completion of Major Construction Highlights the Value of Collaborative Partnerships
DURHAM REGION – Today, Lakeridge Health, Infrastructure Ontario, and PCL Construction celebrated a culmination of milestone events for Lakeridge Gardens, the new long-term care home located next to Ajax Pickering Hospital.
Last month, Lakeridge Health announced the home’s name, Lakeridge Gardens, after completing a community consultation that included feedback and perspectives from over 600 Durham Region residents. The Ontario government also celebrated the state-of-the-art long-term care home on February 1 during an event with the Premier of Ontario, Doug Ford, and several Cabinet Ministers and other dignitaries.
On March 2, Lakeridge Health, PCL Construction, and Infrastructure Ontario marked ‘substantial performance.’ A major accomplishment, substantial performance signifies the completion of all major construction and that the home’s keys have been handed over to Lakeridge Health to operate.
“Lakeridge Gardens’ progress over the last year, and especially in the last few weeks, has been a remarkable achievement,” said Cynthia Davis, President and CEO of Lakeridge Health. “Our partnerships with PCL Construction, Infrastructure Ontario, local and provincial governments, the Durham Region community, and countless other skilled workers, tradespeople, and team members made this possible.”
To showcase the innovative collaboration behind the project and to provide insight into the strategy that enabled the home to be built in months instead of years, PCL Construction released a short documentary along with a complementary timeline.
“Collaboration is key to success on any project, but the outcomes achieved on the Lakeridge Health Accelerated Build project truly personify what strong partnerships can achieve,” said Marc Pascoli, Vice President and District Manager, PCL Constructors Canada Inc. “On behalf of PCL and our partners, we’d like to extend a sincere thank you to the Province of Ontario, Infrastructure Ontario and Lakeridge Health for entrusting us to deliver your vision. To our design and construction partners who worked tirelessly throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to provide long-term care residents with a modern, comfortable, and safe place to call home, thank you for stepping up to the challenge with us. The successful outcome on this project is only possible thanks to the dedicated efforts of every individual who committed to the goal of delivering Ontario’s first Accelerated Build project in only 13 months, as promised."
Together through a shared vision, substantial performance was achieved bringing 320 long-term care beds to the Durham Region years faster than a traditional build.
“We are deeply privileged to have worked with partners to create the accelerated build program in order to quickly deliver much needed long-term care infrastructure,” said Michael Lindsay, President and CEO, Infrastructure Ontario. “Through a range of accelerated measures such as modular construction, rapid procurement and the use of hospital lands, we have been able to successfully build this facility faster than the traditional timeline. This project is a resonant example of what can be achieved when innovation, modern solutions, and great partnerships come together.”
With the home’s opening planned for late March, Lakeridge Gardens will provide Durham seniors with care and comfort in a modern environment that is connected to a campus of care operated by Lakeridge Health.
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Quick Facts About Lakeridge Gardens:
· At its peak, the project saw just over 600 skilled workers a day. This equals 4,800 working hours per day and a significant economic boost to our community and the province.
· The home includes 320 beds, stands six storeys tall, and covers 273,000 square feet. In addition to bringing 320 beds to the Durham Region, the home’s planning includes evidence-informed infection prevention and control measures and a modern design that prioritizes residents’ quality of life.
· A nine-station dialysis unit will also be housed on the first floor of the building. The new dialysis unit will mean an increased quality of life for residents who can access treatment in the comfort of their home.
Additional Quotes:
“I’m very proud to see the first new long-term care home built under our government’s Accelerated Build Pilot program in just 13 months. Our government has a plan to fix long-term care and a key part of that plan is building modern, safe and comfortable homes for our loved ones. This state-of-the-art long-term care home has been completed in record time and will soon be a place for 320 seniors in Durham Region to call home, near their family and friends.” - Paul Calandra, Minister of Long-Term Care
“On behalf of the entire design team, G architects and Parkin Architects would like to express how proud our team is to have been a part of this project, and how grateful we are to have had an opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the access to care for elders at Lakeridge Health and in Durham Region. We would also like to take the opportunity to recognize the effort of the many architects, engineers, and design professionals who worked around the clock to support the success of PCL Construction and their sub-trades. This tremendous milestone could not have been achieved without the coordinated efforts of the design team, PCL Construction, the Lakeridge Health team, Infrastructure Ontario, the Town of Ajax, and Ministry of Long-Term Care officials; the efforts from all are inspiring.” - Matt Galvin, Partner, G architects