Gorge UPCC — Continuum

Healthcare / Institutional

Gorge Urgent & Primary Care Centre

Completed in 2021, Continuum was part of the transformation of an outdated and under-utilized wing of the Gorge Road Hospital into a modern Urgent and Primary Care Centre ready to address the non-emergency needs of the community – all in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. The remainder of the facility remained fully open and operational throughout construction.

While the project was first envisioned as an interior tenant improvement, our review of the initial program and several space-planning exercises verified the value of including additional improvements to the exterior. A bright, warm, inviting new entrance was added, thoughtfully tying into the existing structural roof deck system. Building envelope improvements modernized the original exterior and added energy-efficient windows, insulated wall assemblies and durable cladding.

The interior saw extensive replanning and upgrades that have resulted in 11 new exam rooms, a POCT lab, medication room, multiple shared offices and collaboration spaces, equipment and storage rooms and staff amenity areas. To accommodate Covid-19 protocols and developing prevention guidelines, a separate entrance into a specially designed droplet-precaution room was provided, with an interior anteroom for staff.

To further bring value to the Gorge Road Hospital, the new exterior design theme for the UPCC was expanded to include the existing main entrance, harmonizing this wing of the facility and leading the way for additional exterior improvements in the future. We developed a new peaceful low-maintenance landscaped enclosure, and we were asked to develop an exterior layout for the staff courtyard which is now encompassed with this new project. And a new concept for exterior entry and parking signage was implemented.