"The word "complex" probably best defines this project. Such a development in a hospital setting involves a multitude of considerations, each more important than the last, including specialized medical equipment, confidentiality requirements, infection control issues, flow of traffic, and efficiency of layouts."

The construction of the new nouveau Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM) began with the design of the CHUM Research Centre. This first phase of the project, on which our firm worked, was delivered on budget and on schedule in the fall of 2013 and is LEED Gold certified.

The construction of the hospital, designed by CannonDesign + NEUF architects, was planned in two phases in order to respect the functionality requirements of the CHUM and the maintenance of the operations of the Saint-Luc Hospital during the construction of the south pavilion, which was put into service in the fall of 2017. The finalization of the design, the execution of the plans and specifications as well as the supervision of the works of the last phase, which includes the demolition of the Saint-Luc Hospital and the construction of the North Pavilion and the auditorium building, was accomplished by our team in consortium with MSDL.

A complex project

Located at the intersection of René-Lévesque Boulevard and Saint-Denis Street in the busy downtown area of Montreal, the latest phase of the CHUM's new hospital complex is integrated into a dense urban environment, close to the Ville-Marie Expressway, a metro station, and Montreal's cosmopolitan and historic districts. The team had to successfully cohabit with the previous phases, especially with respect to pavilion C, where the extension of the outpatient clinics is located and whose realization implied multiple and complex connections with the existing.

Everything has been meticulously analyzed, designed and implemented to allow the composition of a care environment that is worthy of the activities that take place there, the people who work there and the users who are cared for and accompanied there. The requirements of a hospital project of this scale required exemplary interdisciplinary coordination. If all of this proved to be feasible in this last phase of the CHUM, we must also add the challenges of an efficient and well thought-out realization in a very cramped setting, on the street, where each movement of manpower or materials entails an almost endless mathematical calculation.

« Le PDG du CHUM, le Dr Fabrice Brunet, confirme la « réception provisoire complète » de la dernière phase du CHUM, construit en partenariat public-privé. Malgré la pandémie, cette dernière phase a été livrée avec un mois d’avance et « dans les budgets ». Cela permet de rattraper légèrement le retard de 11 mois qui avait été accumulé lors de la deuxième phase du projet. La livraison de la deuxième phase du projet en 2017, qui comprenait la majeure partie de l’hôpital, avait été retardée. Des centaines d’éléments de non-conformité avaient été relevés. Environ 70 % de ces éléments sont maintenant corrigés, évalue le Dr Brunet. Pour la dernière phase, les erreurs sont quasi inexistantes. Si bien que le Dr Brunet estime que la réception finale du projet n’est plus très loin. »

A caring environment for all occupants

The quality of the architecture has a direct impact on the quality of life of its users, on their sense of security, confidence and ultimately, their well-being. It was imperative to provide a caring environment capable of welcoming and accompanying patients, supporting them through diagnoses, treatments, follow-ups, and visits to their loved ones, and providing a pleasant and stimulating workplace for the staff who work there every day. Architecture also plays an essential role in the efficient and functional planning of the various pathways. Good space design can reduce the level of stress associated with orientation in a hospital of this magnitude by, for example, providing reception, rest and walking areas with plenty of windows, positioning exterior views at the end of corridors, or using color to differentiate care services.

The evaluation of the preliminary design plans identified and understood the frequent critical linkages between different services and spaces. Units were reorganized to optimize floor space and reduce travel distances, allowing medical staff to be closer to patients. Based on the information available, on the standards in force and on our team's experience in the realization of similar projects, the design of the clinical spaces and the integrated furniture was entirely adjusted to the needs of the personnel, whether in terms of sequence of use, sensitivity of human contact, ergonomics and sturdiness, all with a view to universal accessibility, durability and sustainable development.

This project marks the end of a gigantic urban development project in the health sector. A state-of-the-art hospital complex where researchers, doctors and specialists join forces to contribute to a better society that takes care of its population. With the completion of this last phase, "all doctors now have their offices in the same place. All the players will be brought together on a single site, which will allow the hospital to deploy the full force of the synergy" (Dr. Fabrice Brunet, CEO of the CHUM / La Presse).

Data sheet

Project program

• 365-seat amphitheater: 5,582 m² on 3 floors
• Pavilion C - Outpatient Clinics: 15 floors (14,807 m²)
• Pavilion B - Library and administrative offices: 15 floors (18,619 m²)
• Parking: 852 spaces on 5 floors (31,600 m²) and 210 bicycle spaces
• Checkrooms: 3311 lockers for the staff (40% of the total)
  
  

Project team

• Design: CannonDesign + NEUF architects
• Revision and finalization of the design, execution and supervision of the work: Jodoin Lamarre Pratte | Menkès Shooner Dagenais LeTourneux architects in consortium
• Construction: Pomerleau
• Engineering: Pageau Morel and Associates, SDK and Associates
• Landscape architecture: NIPpaysage