Thursday, May 15, 2025
The Government of Nova Scotia announced a major milestone in the construction of the new, modern acute care tower will be reached this week as the first two of four tower cranes arrive at the Halifax Infirmary site of the QEII Health Sciences Centre.
“These crane structures are a clear sign that transformation is underway,” said Michelle Thompson, Minister of Health and Wellness. “This new tower will meet the healthcare needs of our growing and aging population, an investment that will ensure generations of Nova Scotians get the cutting-edge care they deserve.”
It will take about a week to erect these first two cranes, depending on the weather. Their delivery does not require lane closures or detours around the construction site.
“The arrival of the cranes is a powerful sign to Nova Scotians that this long-envisioned project is becoming a reality. It will improve access to the care people need, reduce wait times and reflects our focus on delivering timely, high-quality care,” said Karen Oldfield, interim president and CEO, Nova Scotia Health.
The other two cranes will arrive in July. Four are required because of the size of the construction site, and they will range from 93 to 105 metres high when fully assembled.
Further updates on construction of the $7.4-billion acute care tower will be provided in the coming weeks, including information on pouring the concrete foundation, blasting and rock work, and phased paving and restoration work on Robie Street and Jubilee Road.
“While site preparation work and blasting have being going on for months, these towering cranes signal to the public the beginning of construction of the 14-storey acute care tower, the largest and most ambitious healthcare infrastructure project ever undertaken in Atlantic Canada,” said Jonathan Veale, Vice-President, Strategic Infrastructure, Build Nova Scotia.
The QEII Halifax Infirmary Expansion Project will serve residents of Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotians and Atlantic Canadians. It will feature:
- a new inpatient tower with 216 acute care beds, 16 operating rooms and specialized inpatient care units, including a 48-bed intensive care unit
- diagnostic and treatment facilities
- a satellite diagnostic imaging department in the emergency department
- new and upgraded lab spaces including a pathology lab next to the new operating rooms
- additional treatment spaces, including hyperbaric medicine
a new, expanded emergency department that will be more efficient and handle increased patient volumes.
Construction of the acute care tower is expected to be complete in 2030 with the tower open and fully operational in the fall of 2031.
“Installing these first two tower cranes is a significant milestone for the Halifax Infirmary Expansion Project. They reflect the hard work and dedication of the teams working on this project. They also serve as a visible reminder that we are steadily progressing towards making this crucial piece of healthcare infrastructure a cornerstone for Nova Scotia. Seeing these cranes join the Halifax skyline is a proud moment for the Plenary PCL Health team,” said Paul Knowles, Senior vice president and district manager, PCL Construction.
Featured image: A mobile crane (right) is used to build a tower crane at the Halifax Infirmary site of the QEII Health Sciences Centre on Monday, May 12. (Build Nova Scotia)
