Friday, March 21, 2025
The Government of Nova Scotia announced the next phase of construction will soon begin, with the province finalizing an agreement with Plenary PCL Health to build the tower. The new tower is expected to be fully complete and open to patients and providers in the fall of 2031.
“This is an exciting milestone for the future of healthcare in our province. This is the largest healthcare infrastructure project ever undertaken in Atlantic Canada,” said Health and Wellness Minister Michelle Thompson. “It will ensure generations of Nova Scotians get the cutting-edge care they deserve, provide a modern workplace for the dedicated staff at the QEII, and help us attract and hire the healthcare staff we need.”
The Province’s agreement with Plenary PCL Health includes construction of the 14-floor tower and its maintenance over 30 years, beginning at substantial completion in the fall of 2030. The project’s total cost between now and 2061 will be $7.4 billion, which includes $4.5 billion to construct the tower at the Halifax Infirmary and $2.9 billion to operate and maintain the new building.
“PCL Construction is excited to move forward with the next stage of the Halifax Infirmary expansion project. We remain dedicated to helping the Province build this new healthcare facility designed specifically to meet the needs of Nova Scotians. We’re looking forward to bringing the province’s vision for the project to life,” said Paul Knowles, Senior Vice-President and District Manager, PCL Construction .
Enabling work to prepare the site for construction has been underway since last spring and the project is on schedule. In May, tower cranes will be erected and work on the foundation will begin.
“We are proud to have reached this milestone on the QEII Halifax Infirmary Expansion Project, which will expand and modernize this healthcare facility and improve patient care. We’d like to thank our provincial partners for their dedication to this project, and we look forward to delivering a contemporary, welcoming space for patients, health professionals and visitors,” said Brian Budden, President and CEO, Plenary Americas.
When complete, the new tower will add 216 beds, 16 operating rooms, a 48-bed intensive care unit and an emergency department that is nearly twice the size of the current one. It will also have state-of-the-art equipment, a satellite diagnostic imaging department in the emergency department, new and upgraded lab spaces and additional treatment spaces.
“The QEII Halifax Infirmary expansion will strengthen our healthcare system in many ways, including state-of-the-art, efficient new care spaces that better meet the needs of our staff and physicians. This new facility will enhance our physical capacity to provide care, while also equipping our teams with advanced tools and technology to deliver high-quality services to Nova Scotians,” said Dr. Christine Short, Senior Medical Director, QEII Healthcare Redevelopment, Central Zone, Nova Scotia Health.
Some health services now delivered at the QEII Victoria General site will move to new and renovated spaces at the Halifax Infirmary site when they open.
The QEII Halifax Infirmary expansion is one element of More, Faster: The Action for Health Build, the government’s comprehensive plan for improving healthcare services for Nova Scotians.
Developing modern healthcare infrastructure will help Nova Scotia become a magnet for health providers, provide the care Nova Scotians need and deserve, and cultivate excellence on the front lines, all of which are solutions under Action for Health.
“This is another transformative step forward for Nova Scotia Health. The QEII Halifax Infirmary’s new acute care tower will decrease wait times and improve access to care for all Nova Scotians,” said Karen Oldfield, interim President and CEO, Nova Scotia Health.
Work completed to date includes:
- moving the main entrance to Summer Street
- moving the emergency department driveway and parking to Bell Road
- building a new, expanded magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) suite
- demolishing the parkade on Robie Street
- building a new parkade on Summer Street
- doing preliminary site excavation and preparation and rock removal
- the new tower’s foundation and concrete structure for the main floor are expected to be complete by the end of the year
“This project reflects our unwavering commitment at Build Nova Scotia to provide a top-quality healthcare facility that delivers value for money while prioritizing the well-being of the people it serves and the dedicated people who work there,” sajd David Benoit, President and CEO, Build Nova Scotia.
Featured image: (Province of Nova Scotia)
