The $20 million replacement of the Intensive Care Unit at Cranbrook's hospital is moving ahead this spring.
Interior Health announced on Thursday, Feb. 27 that it has released the tender for a general contractor for the huge project that will add an 8,500 square foot building to the hospital with six patient rooms.
The addition will replace the ageing, cramped four-bed Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the hospital.
"This project remains on schedule. The successful completion of the design phase and the release of this tender reflect the years of dedicated efforts by our elected officials, physicians, staff and administrators in moving this project forward. I'd like to thank everyone who paved the way for Interior Health to reach this important project milestone," said Interior Health board chair Norman Embree.
The estimated total project cost is $20 million and it includes a significant electrical upgrade to all of East Kootenay Regional Hospital.
The B.C. government is funding approximately $12 million of the project and the Kootenay East Regional Hospital District is contributing about $8 million. The East Kootenay Foundation for Health is contributing $120,000.
"I'm pleased to see a project that is so important for the people of the East Kootenay moving forward," said Kootenay East MLA Bill Bennett. "This project will give physicians and staff an expanded and updated workplace that will support the excellent care they are already providing to patients."
As well as six high-acuity rooms, the ICU includes a central nurses' station and family spaces. Large windows will maximize natural light. The design takes into account the needs of patients, families and medical staff.
Medical staff at the hospital were heavily involved in the design process, even conducting an exercise with styrofoam cutouts of ICU machines to test the spacing.
It will be built onto the northeast side of East Kootenay Regional Hospital, beside where the mobile MRI unit is parked.
The new electrical system will provide power to the entire hospital and optimize system performance. The electrical infrastructure will be located in the basement of the new addition.
"Today's announcement brings us one step closer to breaking ground on this project and having a new ICU available for patients and their families," said KERHD Board Chair John Kettle.
"The Foundation is extremely excited to be a part of this project and it's rewarding to see our communities and partners from across the region stepping forward to support these important improvements," said Donna Grainer, Executive Director for the Foundation.
Interior Health anticipates awarding the contract in early April. Construction will begin later in the spring, with construction completion anticipated for mid-2016.
Interested suppliers and subcontractors can view the list of general contractors who are pre-qualified to bid on this project at www.interiorhealth.ca/AboutUs/BusinessCentre/Construction/Pages/CompetitiveBidding.aspx.
Electrical contractors have been pre-qualified for this project.