In emergency situations, time is critical, and the new 40,000-square-foot, two-story, state-of-the-art hospital expansion in Whitehorse allows the hospital staff to serve patients in the time-sensitive situations. The hospital features a new emergency department along with a new critical care unit, shelled space for future use, and an advanced data center that supports patient care. The new facility allows medical workers to meet the high standards in infection control while providing the residents of Whitehorse safety, comfort and security. Also included in the design  was an internal pandemic isolation zone mode  that is used to separate a portion of the hospital patient care to respond quickly to outbreaks such as COVID-19.

With Whitehorse being a remote town, the team quickly determined that it would not be economically feasible to ship heavy, oversized fabricated sections of the building over a long distance. Using modular construction proved to be of great value while reducing risk related to schedule, design and site construction by allowing the team to build earlier and off-site. Completing large portions of the project ahead of the standard construction sequence shortened the overall construction duration and identified constructability issues early on, allowing them to be fixed in advance of site installation. The largest modular undertaking was the mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) rack and flat-pack floor units. Early on, the team tested the modular design by producing full-size trial units complete with the MEP fit-outs. The goal was to validate the design and identify any oversights or challenges associated with the design. This step offered tremendous value as all details were ironed out ahead of construction.

Building off-site at a fabrication facility improved climate-controlled working conditions and increased worker safety and productivity.

Yukoners now benefit from the hospital expansion adding modernized patient care.