A New Era in Healthcare for Vancouver

Providence Health Care is taking its historic presence in Vancouver into the 21st century with the New St. Paul’s Hospital at the Jim Pattison Medical Campus, the most extensive hospital redevelopment in the history of British Columbia. The facility will combine state-of-the-art technology with cutting-edge care delivery leading to better patient outcomes and provider collaboration.

A Revolution in Integrated Healthcare

New St. Paul’s was designed with a patient-centred approach, with an emphasis on improving access to care. The hospital, almost double in size from the existing site, will include a new emergency department, surgical and interventional services, a critical care unit, a maternal newborn unit and birthing suites, outpatient services, inpatient and outpatient mental health services and community care and outreach programs. By hosting both critical and community and primary care services in the same location, the hospital aims to optimize care delivery and improve patient outcomes. The development’s patient-centred ethos extends to the architecture itself, which offers access to natural light and windows, a senior-friendly layout, access to outdoor spaces, and spiritual spaces such as therapy roof gardens and a chapel.

The 548-bed hospital adds 115 more than the existing facility and offers private rooms to each patient to provide privacy, infection control, and allow space for families to stay with their loved ones.

The Epicentre of a Sustainable Community

New St. Paul’s redefines the role that a hospital can play in a community. As the centre of a health and digital innovation district, the new hospital will foster a higher level of healthcare services to serve as a pillar for False Creek Flats and the surrounding area. The development includes an outdoor plaza and 800-meter wellness walk and will redevelop surrounding street layouts and cycling paths to better integrate the campus into nearby neighbourhoods.

The campus will restore native plant species to the area, providing tree canopy, improving air quality, conserving water, and supporting wildlife. The emphasis on sustainability continues indoors with integrated heat recovery systems to minimize waste, rooftop rain gardens, and even partnerships with local food suppliers to provide sustainable meals in the dining facilities. The building was designed to be resilient against natural disasters and projected sea level rise by 2100. These sustainability measures were included to meet LEED Gold certification, an internationally recognized standard.

Providence collaborated with the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations to ensure the hospital met local Indigenous needs. The development will include an All Nations Sacred Space, Traditional Medicine Garden, and future plans include an Indigenous Welcome Center. St. Paul’s will provide several programs catered toward Indigenous health, including those in rural communities who often lack the necessary level of access to care.