Project overview

  • What is the Royal Columbian Hospital redevelopment project?

    The Royal Columbian Hospital redevelopment project is a $1.49 billion, multi-year project that will increase the hospital’s capacity, introduce advanced medical technologies and improve the health care environment for patients, staff and medical staff. When complete, the project will transform almost all aspects of the hospital and ensure that lifesaving services are available to people across the region now and in the future.

  • Why is the redevelopment necessary at this time?

    Royal Columbian Hospital is the oldest hospital in the province and one of the busiest. The redevelopment will provide more capacity, provide advanced technologies and equipment and upgrade the hospital infrastructure to meet the needs of patients and staff.

  • How does the project fit into the overall vision for capital projects in Fraser Health?

    We are building to modernize our health care system for the needs of today and the future. With $5 billion in capital work underway in Fraser Health, we are making significant investments to build capacity and improve timely access to quality, patient-centred care closer to home.

    The facilities’ upgrades and capital investments undertaken prioritize innovation, planetary health, accessibility and inclusion because we know these are vital for protecting our health care system now and in the future.

    As one of the largest capital projects underway in the province, the redevelopment of Royal Columbian will enable us to continue to provide the level of high-quality care that people throughout the region have come to expect from this award-winning hospital.

  • What are the key benefits of the redevelopment?

    The key benefits include:

    • More capacity: The redevelopment will add approximately 50 per cent more beds.
    • Patient-centred care: Planning and design for the redevelopment focus on the patient experience while in hospital, including more single-patient private rooms and a healing environment that features natural light and outdoor spaces.
    • Modern technology and equipment: The redevelopment will introduce new technology and medical equipment that will support an improved care experience for our patients.
    • Enhanced services: The redevelopment will add a new, larger Emergency Department that will feature a satellite medical imaging unit, among other improvements to ensure our patients receive the services they need for urgent and emergent care concerns.
    • Enhanced safety: The redevelopment will include features to enhance staff and patient safety, such as: separate routes for patients and staff; larger operating rooms; standardized layouts; and improved lines of sight from care stations.
    • Better infection control: The redevelopment will include the latest infection prevention and control requirements to improve safety such as operating rooms that include UV light to disinfect and kill pathogens.

    See the project overview for more details


  • What stage are you at in the project?

    In phase one, we opened a new Mental Health and Substance Use Wellness Centre and made infrastructure improvements to enable the expansion in bed capacity in phase two.

    Phase two – a new Emergency Department and acute care tower – is now under construction and is scheduled to open in 2025.

    We are beginning to plan the design of phase three – upgrading and expanding areas in existing buildings. Phase three is scheduled to be complete in 2026.

Phase two acute care tower

  • What will the tower include?

    The tower will include:

    • More beds for intensive care, cardiac intensive care, obstetrical and medical/surgical patients.

    • A new, larger Emergency Department with 75 treatment bays and a satellite medical imaging unit.

    • More operating rooms and interventional radiology and cardiac suites on a surgical and interventional floor.

    • A larger maternity unit joined to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

    • Advanced technologies and equipment.

    • Underground parkade with 350+ spaces, new main entrance and rooftop heliport

    • Site enhancements and infrastructure upgrades.

  • Will there be private rooms for patients?

    Most patient rooms will be single rooms to enhance patient privacy. The remainder will be double rooms.

  • How many new parking spaces are you adding?

    In phase one, we added 450 underground parking spaces. As part of phase two, we will be adding 350 underground parking spaces.

    We expect the phase two parking spaces to open following the completion of the building in 2025.

Phase three renovations

  • What is included in phase three?

    Phase three of the redevelopment involves renovations to existing hospital buildings. The approved business case includes the following areas for renovation:

    • Interventional

    • Main Lab

    • Satellite Medical Device Reprocessing

    • Information Management/Information Technology

    • Food Services

    • Medical Imaging

    • Pharmacy

Construction

  • Noise

    Evening work

    What is the noise bylaw exemption for evening work?

    The City of New Westminster has granted a noise bylaw exemption for EllisDon to complete concrete finishing work between 8:00 p.m. and 11 p.m. on days when there are larger concrete pours from May 31 to January 31, 2023. See the May 31 construction notice for dates. Dates are subject to change based on weather and site conditions.

    Why is there a noise bylaw exemption for evening work?

    Each concrete section pour typically takes the regular hours of a workday to complete. The finishing must be done while the concrete is still fresh and can’t wait until the next day. The exemption allows our construction partner EllisDon to complete the finishing work while the concrete is still fresh.

    Will construction noise occur in the evening on all proposed dates?

    No. The variance will only be required on about half (or less) of the pour dates listed. In some cases, it may be possible to complete the work during regular construction hours after all.

    What measures are in place to reduce the impact of the evening noise exemption on neighbours?

    • All other activities relating to the concrete pours, such as deliveries, pumping and placing, will be completed during regular construction hours.
    • Only the concrete finishing crew of two to three people will be staying behind after hours.
    • All equipment will be in good operating order, operated at minimum engine speeds and turned off when not in use.
    • Construction personnel will be educated and supervised to ensure they minimize potential noises.
    • We will provide notification 24 hours in advance of requiring this exemption by flyers delivered to the neighbourhood or by email if requested. The notice will include the name and phone number of an EllisDon supervisor who can be contacted on the day of the pour if there are any issues.
    • The notice will include the name and phone number of an EllisDon supervisor who can be contacted on the day of the pour if there are any issues.

    Saturday work

    What is the noise bylaw exemption for Saturday mornings?

    The City of New Westminster has granted a noise bylaw exemption to permit a 7:00 a.m., rather than a 9:00 a.m., start on Saturdays until late May 4, 2024. 

    Why is there a noise bylaw exemption for Saturday mornings?

    Many things can have an impact on construction work, including unforeseen conditions, inclement weather, issues with material procurement, delivery, production or quality, etc.  Although Saturdays are not included as part of the base construction schedule, working on Saturdays is sometimes needed to make up for lost time during the week.  

    Will construction noise begin at 7:00 a.m. every Saturday?

    No. Saturdays are considered a 'catch-up' day. Noisy work will be scheduled to start at 9:00 a.m. as much as possible. Workers may arrive on site between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. to work on quiet tasks.  

    What measures is EllisDon putting in place to reduce the impact of the noise exemption on neighbours?

    Measures in place to reduce the impact of the noise exemption: 

    • Mobile activities such as cutting and grinding will be strategically located away from residents
    • Non-road diesel equipment will be monitored and equipped with mufflers, as appropriate. 
    • Equipment will be turned off when not in use.
    • Construction methods will be considered when planning the work (e.g. drilling piles instead of pile driving).
  • Trucks and parking

    What is being done to address truck traffic in the neighbourhood?
    Construction trucks are not supposed to drive through the neighbourhood. Please notify us if you see a construction vehicle driving through the neighbourhood. If it is a truck associated with the hospital redevelopment project this will be corrected with the vendor/subcontractor as soon as possible. 

    Where is truck staging permitted?
    Trucks are supposed to stage within the jersey barriers on the south side of Sherbrooke St. by the hospital, as per the traffic management plan approved by the City of New Westminster. 

    What is being done to address trades parking?
    EllisDon workers and its subcontractors are not allowed to park on public streets within a one km radius of the hospital. EllisDon has arranged parking for its workers at the 97 Braid St. parking lot. Workers are also encouraged to take public transit. 

  • Respecting property

    What is being done to make sure construction workers are not smoking or leaving garbage in the neighbourhood?

    EllisDon has one designated smoking area within the construction fence and workers are consistently reminded there is to be no smoking outside of these designated areas. EllisDon continues to monitor this and to correct workers’ behaviour to ensure neighbours’ properties are respected. Roads are cleaned of garbage and debris (including any cigarette butts) on Tuesdays and Fridays.

  • Communication

    How do I find out about construction updates?
    We issue construction notices whenever there may be impacts to neighbours, local businesses, patients, visitors and hospital staff.  These notices are posted on our news and updates page and are sent out to our contact lists. 

    We post updates on the Fraser Health social media channels (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn).

    In addition, we provide regular updates at the Sapperton Residents’ Association meetings. 

    Where can I report construction violations?
    All comments, complaints and questions can be submitted to the Royal Columbian Hospital redevelopment project office by email at RCHRedevelopment@fraserhealth.ca or by phone at 604-418-5326.

    For construction-related bylaw enforcement, you can contact the City of New Westminster at bylawenforcement@newwestcity.ca or by phone at 604-527-4657

    Where can I find out about other construction projects in Sapperton?
    The City of New Westminster has information about other local construction projects on their webpage about Sapperton construction projects.

Stay informed

How can I stay informed about what is happening on the project?

We send out construction notices and project updates on a regular basis. Subscribe to our notices and updates.