Builders submit proposals for Bridgepoint redevelopment

JOANNA LAVOIE

March 19, 2009

The process is now underway to select the project team for south Riverdale's soon-to-be-rebuilt Bridgepoint Health complex for chronic disease and disability.

The deadline for the pre-qualified building teams to submit their proposals to design, build, finance and maintain the new hospital was Friday, March 13.

Infrastructure Ontario alongside Bridgepoint Health will evaluate the bidders' proposals over the next few months looking at the criteria set out in the initial request for proposals.

The winning bid will be announced early this summer following the evaluation process.

Costs will be publicly announced soon with construction set to begin shortly thereafter.

In a release, Marian Walsh, Bridgepoint Health's president and CEO, said the hospital's redevelopment, which is expected to cost hundreds of millions of dollars, is a step towards Bridgepoint's role as a state-of-the-art facility for complex chronic disease and disability.

"Step-by-step, we're getting closer to building a much needed hospital in Toronto for people living with complex chronic disease," said Walsh. "Our new hospital will allow us to improve our delivery of quality healthcare."

The project's architect Bruce Kuwabara was asked to keep that in mind when his team designed a hospital that integrates with both the community and nature.

In total, the new 600,000 square foot main building will have 472 beds over 10 floors. The building, which will replace the site's current half-round building, will feature ample natural sunlight and beautiful views.

There will also be several other smaller buildings on the site, which will be divided up into a series of streets in a grid formation.

A team of landscape architects is also working to increase the site's green space.

The significance of the historic Don Jail would also be maintained with its future use as an administrative building for the hospital.

The new Bridgepoint Health, which will remain publicly owned, controlled and accountable, should be completed by June 2012.