60 photos of the new hospital

A tighter, sleeker, more technologically savvy new hospital is taking shape out on the corner of Third Line and Great Northern Road.

SooToday.com was there with droves of media and dignitaries yesterday to tour the new facility on a sunny but cold day.

Inside, almost 400 men and women were working hard while we toured.

But they sure didn't look cramped.

Seen at left is the tour host Harry Koskenoja, project manager for the still-under construction hospital.

The new SAH is 20 percent larger than the combined existing buildings.

It features an emergency department that's double the size of the existing one.

The new hospital will also contain many state-of-the-art systems for infection control, lighting, heating and air filtration.

Sault MPP David Orazietti was there.

Mayor John Rowswell and most members of City Council skipped the tour, but we did spot Ward 1 Councillor James Caicco and his Ward 4 sidekick Lou Turco.

The full release from Orazietti's office follows.

SooToday.com posted four videos from the tour yesterday. Time permitting, we hope to post more video over the weekend.

Click here to view photo gallery

************************* Orazietti welcomes hospital staff and municipal officials for tour of new Sault Area Hospital

McGuinty government providing unprecedented support for Sault and area residents by delivering new $408 million hospital on time and on budget

SAULT STE. MARIE — (March 20) David Orazietti, MPP for Sault Ste. Marie, joined hospital officials and members of the Sault Ste. Marie City Council today for a tour of the site of the new $408 million Sault Area Hospital.

"This tour is a great opportunity to see the tremendous progress that has been made on our new, state-of-the-art hospital," said MPP Orazietti. "With more single bed rooms, a larger emergency department, and new infection control facilities the new Sault Area Hospital will enhance patient care, improve our ability to attract and retain doctors and other health care professionals and provide a significant boost to the local economy."

According to 2003 provincial capital planning of the previous government, the new Sault Area Hospital was scheduled to begin construction in 2009.

However, under the McGuinty government's Re-New Ontario program, construction began in 2007 and is on time and on budget to open its doors to patients in April 2011.

The new hospital will replace the existing facilities at the Plummer Memorial Hospital and the Sault Ste. Marie General Hospital sites and consolidate services in a facility that is 20 per cent larger than the two hospitals combined.

Other key features of Sault Ste. Marie's new public hospital Include:

- All medical and clinical services will remain public

- All medical and clinical services will be accessible with OHIP card - Number of single bed rooms increased from 19% to 50percent - highest ratio in a community hospital in the province

- 20 percent larger in space than two current sites

- 31 percent more clinical space than two current sites combined

- Emergency unit will be doubled in size

- New cancer radiation therapy facility

- Number of rehabilitation beds increased

- Northern Medical School training space

The new SAH is being constructed under the Alternative Finance and Procurement (AFP) model, which compels the developer to provide the financial resources necessary to complete construction of an infrastructure project, on time and on budget, as well as provide ongoing maintenance for the life of the facility.

The Hospital Board retains control of the facility and runs both medical and clinical services, as is currently the practice.

Under this strategy, an independent Value For Money (VFM) audit concluded that the new Sault Area Hospital will save taxpayers 18.2 percent as compared to the traditional model.

"A hospital with a wide range of services is crucial to the life of a vibrant community," said George Smitherman, Deputy Premier and Minister of Energy and Infrastructure. "Through our $30-billion infrastructure plan, ReNew Ontario, communities throughout the province will have access to modern health care closer to home."

Already in the second winter of construction, the project is more than 60 percent complete.

Over the next few months, construction activities will include installation of the glass 'curtain wall' enclosing the main lobby, cladding, mechanical and electrical services, drywall, painting and flooring.

"This project is an essential part of the province's commitment to renew hospitals," said David Caplan, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. "I'm pleased that the hospital will soon provide cutting-edge health care in the North."

At the moment, there are over 60 subcontractors working on the project and the total man hours to date is over one million.

Eighty per cent of the manpower on the project comes from the Sault area, with the average number of workers on site daily ranging from 500-600.

Approximately $105 million in salaries will be paid out over the duration of the construction project and the expected value of locally purchased supplies is approximately $15-$23 million.

"I would like to thank our Board, staff, physicians, volunteers, the Sault Area Hospital Foundation and the communities in the region for their generous donations and support for this project," said Ron Gagnon, SAH President and Chief Executive Officer.

"On behalf of the entire Board, I would like to congratulate everyone associated with this magnificent addition to the health care landscape of the region," added Elaine Pitcher, SAH Board Chair. "We are proud of our role in this once-in-a-lifetime milestone project."

Infrastructure Ontario and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care are working with the Sault Area Hospital to manage the construction of the new hospital, which will remain publicly owned, publicly controlled and publicly accountable. Infrastructure Ontario is a Crown corporation dedicated to managing some of the province's larger and more complex infrastructure renewal projects - ensuring they are built on time and on budget.

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