Infrastructure Ontario and North York General Hospital issue RFQ for new patient care tower project

Ontario Construction News staff writer

Infrastructure Ontario (IO) and North York General Hospital (NYGH) have issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the redevelopment of the hospital’s new patient care tower. This multi-phase project, located in the Don Valley North neighbourhood of Toronto, aims to significantly enhance NYGH’s capacity and improve care delivery for its highest acuity services.

Shortlisted teams will be invited to respond to a Request for Proposals, which is expected to be released in summer 2025. Interested companies must register on merx.com to download the RFQ.

Redevelopment will include a new 11-floor tower dedicated to patient care, along with two levels of underground parking. Connecting to the existing NYGH facility across six levels, the new structure will enable the seamless flow of patients, staff, and materials. Once complete, the tower will house up to 317 private patient rooms, expanding the hospital’s acute care capacity by approximately 100 net-new beds.

The RFQ is the first step in selecting the team that will deliver the project. Teams responding to the RFQ will be evaluated based on criteria such as team composition, experience in collaborative project delivery, health and safety protocols, and prior project performance. Shortlisted teams will then be invited to submit proposals, with a Request for Proposals (RFP) expected by summer 2025. Companies interested in participating must register on merx.com to access the RFQ.

This redevelopment represents the largest expansion of NYGH since the hospital’s founding in 1968. Designed to meet the growing needs of the North York community, the new tower will provide enhanced facilities across several vital medical services, including critical care, inpatient mental health, maternal and newborn care, and emergency services.

The project will be delivered using the Alliance contracting model, which fosters collaboration between public and private sector partners to share risks and responsibilities in the project. This approach aims to improve project delivery through flexibility and cooperative problem-solving.

In addition to expanding healthcare capacity, the new tower will incorporate advanced sustainability features. The design will meet leading environmental standards, including the Canada Green Building Council’s LEED certification and the Toronto Green Standard, ensuring a greener and more sustainable future for the hospital.

Key areas to be expanded or added include:

• Critical care
• Inpatient mental health (adult and child/adolescent units)
• Maternal/newborn program (including NICU and labour and delivery)
• Medical/surgical inpatient units
• Emergency department
• Medical imaging
• Surgical services
• Satellite pharmacy and laboratory
• Biomedical engineering
• Environmental services
• Medical device reprocessing

The new Patient Care Tower is expected to improve patient access to vital services, providing an upgraded and integrated healthcare environment for the North York community. The emphasis on patient, visitor, and staff experience, combined with a focus on safety and wellness, will ensure the hospital remains a leading healthcare provider in the region.