The First All Mass Timber Acute Care Hospital Under Construction in North America

The Quinte Health Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital in Picton, Ontario, Canada, will be the first acute care hospital in North America with an unencapsulated all mass timber structure, setting an industry precedent for healthcare design. Understanding environmental health and human health are intrinsically connected, this community-backed mass timber hospital is poised to save over 9 million kilograms of embodied carbon dioxide compared to a conventional steel and concrete structure.

“It’s about balancing environmental and social sustainability in the sense that mass timber in healthcare is at once about human comfort and environmental stewardship.” — Jason-Emery Groen, design principal, HDR

Merging Sustainability and Health

Unencapsulated mass timber is faster and more accurate in construction compared to steel and concrete, and it sequesters carbon better than any other structural material. With its biophilic properties, mass timber contributes to the design of a warm, human-centric environment that is inviting and open, welcoming people to relate to the building’s construction.

By integrating sustainable building practices with advanced medical technology, the new hospital aims to reduce its carbon footprint and optimise energy use. Its design represents a significant step forward in healthcare infrastructure focused on sustainability, incorporating natural light, energy-efficient windows, and sustainable materials throughout, including its structure. Design features include:

• Enhanced clinical capabilities through 23 inpatient beds, emergency department, comprehensive diagnostic imaging, procedures, ambulatory care services and more.
• A public garden at the core of the project for patients and families and an off-stage garden for staff to provide opportunities for respite and privacy.
• Geothermal energy exchange, building integrated photovoltaics, a high-performance building envelope, indigenous landscaping, composite wood cladding and green roofs, among other sustainable measures, prepare the building for future electrification and net-zero carbon status.

Community Pride

PECMH will bring high-quality healthcare services closer to home for the residents of this close-knit community north of Lake Ontario, offering opportunities to improve health outcomes and enhance overall quality of life. The hospital’s sustainable design will also serve as a model for future healthcare projects, demonstrating how this typically high-energy-use typology can be designed with sustainable building practices. Many community members have been involved and contributed to the project and are proud to set a precedent for the healthcare built environment for both their region and beyond.