The Michael Garron Hospital Patient Care Tower is the first step in a physical, technological and operational transformation in which the activities of the hospital span beyond its role as a ‘place’ into one where it engages the community virtually and physically as a network of place and service. The building becomes a hub of care – engaging and shaping community wellness in a new way as its design moves from an ‘inside out’ to an ‘outside in’ approach.

Located on a main thoroughfare in Toronto’s East York region, Michael Garron Hospital I Toronto East Health Network (formerly Toronto East General Hospital) has been a landmark in this ethnically diverse community for generations. As the community’s sole acute care hospital, it has maintained an equal prominence in residents’ hearts and minds as the location of births, deaths, and other significant life events.

The hospital serves a low-income population, immigrants and visible minorities, a growing senior population and has higher than average numbers of children and youth. It is also home to many wealthy neighbourhoods. These profound differences can result in health needs that vary greatly.

Established in 1929, the hospital was intended to be a community amenity. Over time, as the surrounding population continued to densify and diversify, it expanded to meet more acute care needs and, as a result, lost its integral connection with the local community.

Now, with a new brand identity and strategic vision, Michael Garron Hospital is re-establishing itself as an anchor, poised to build a strong, healthy and thriving east Toronto community, where people reach their full potential – physically, mentally, spiritually and socially. The Phase 1 New Patient Care Tower Project is the first phase in achieving this vision.

A cornerstone in the comprehensive redevelopment of the ageing complex, the Phase 1 Tower will include 120,000 square feet of renovations within the existing building stock, as well as a new, nine-storey, 560,000 patient care centre with 217 patient beds and two levels of underground parking.

Through a holistic approach that considers best practices in urban and master planning, landscape, architecture, interiors and public realm design, Michael Garron Hospital is redefining the role and function of the community hospital. Its design enhances the community experience at all scales – from publicly accessible green spaces to activated interior amenity spaces and the latest information communication and automation technology.

This poster will demonstrate how, by aligning the right project team, strategic partnerships and community champions, Michael Garron Hospital will be an exemplar for integrated place-based healthcare delivery that enhances the experiences of all users and creates a sense of place for the community.