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LGH power plant reaches significant construction milestone
On April 25, the Lions Gate Hospital (LGH) power plant relocation project reached a significant milestone with the pouring of the suspended slab that tops off the underground plant. Leadership and team members from VCH, LGH and Lower Mainland Facilities Management (LMFM) came to witness and celebrate the topping off of the plant along with representatives from the contractor, Turner Construction Canada, and designers, DIALOG Design and HH Angus.
“It’s been a long road to this point and with the majority of the work taking place underground, people may not have realized how much has been accomplished,” said Karin Olson, chief operating office for VCH Coastal. “It’s pretty exciting to see the plant being topped off and know that we’re nearing completion of this phase of our redevelopment.”
The new power plant is located under the former East 14th Street on the LGH campus, in between the HOpe Centre and Evergreen House. Constructed of poured-in-place concrete, it is built entirely below grade and will be protected from seismic activity, high winds and other potential hazards.
“This is a unique engineering and structural undertaking to design and build a subterranean plant on a functional hospital campus, and reaching this significant milestone is a testament to our leadership, stakeholders and partners”, said Noor Esmail, executive director, Lower Mainland Facilities Management.
“This is a unique engineering and structural undertaking to design and build a subterranean plant on a functional hospital campus, and reaching this significant milestone is a testament to our leadership, stakeholders and partners”
Noor Esmail, executive director, Lower Mainland Facilities Management
“With a volume of more than 1.5 times an Olympic-sized swimming pool underground, myriad pipes and services in the tunnels, and 10-storey stacks aboveground, the new plant will not only revitalize the operational heart of the campus, but also be a significant feature of the Lonsdale skyline. We’re pleased to have reached this milestone, congratulate the team and look forward to the completion within the year.”
At nearly 60 years old, replacement of the old plant was necessary to facilitate the construction and operation of the new acute care tower. The new power plant has two levels that contain equipment for steam and hot water generation, along with all the major mechanical, electrical, medical gas, water and other systems for the LGH campus.
The next significant event will be the installation of new 35 metre/115 feet tall chimney stacks at the end of May. Once the power plant is completed by spring 2020, construction of the new acute care facility will begin that summer with completion slated for 2023.
