North America’s First Fully Digital Hospital

The new Humber River Hospital leverages digital technology to enhance patient care and the overall hospital experience. It’s also one of North America’s most energy-efficient hospitals.

Designed and built as a public-private partnership (P3) project, the 656-bed Humber River Hospital replaced three older hospital buildings. As compliance architect, HOK developed the project vision and strategic site and building organization while driving the project’s LEAN, sustainability and technology goals.

The LEED Gold Humber River Hospital is one of North America’s most energy-efficient hospitals. HOK led an extensive sustainability study that helped the design team achieve a 47 percent reduction in energy use and an energy use intensity of 348 ekWh/m2, while demonstrating a negligible payback period for incorporating the sustainability strategies. The building features 100 percent fresh air and 142,000 square feet of green roofs. 

HOK’s team also managed a comprehensive consultation process, gathering input from hospital staff, physicians and volunteers about their design and functionality requirements. This process informed the development of transformative planning and design strategies, including a portals-of-care concept that features a 590-foot-long concourse punctuated by dedicated drop-off zones for each clinic.

Bedside digital terminals give patients direct access to their medical records and schedule of upcoming tests and appointments. This device also enables patients to connect with family and friends via video chat, access the Internet and watch TV.

Robotics technology in the pharmacy and laboratory synchronizes data from digital patient files, pharmacy supply information and the bedside terminals to reduce processing times by 60 percent.

Other innovative planning concepts include an interventional floor, a dedicated drop-off zone and entrance for dialysis, and an O-ZONE layout in the Emergency Room that improves efficiency and reduces wait times.

Throughout the campus, clear wayfinding facilitates easy access to all hospital services for the community’s multicultural population.