As we look back on 2020, we would like to thank our staff, partners, and all team members for their hard work and dedication over this past year. This year has not been easy, but it has been rewarding to be able to contribute our services to the community and work with amazing teams. We look forward to the coming year and the opportunity to achieve great things together in 2021.
Our highlights from 2020:
Awards and Appointments
Arviligruaq Ilinniarvik School wins CCE Award at Virtual Awards Celebration
We congratulate Accutech Engineering who were honoured during the 2020 Canadian Consulting Engineering (CCE) Awards Virtual Celebration with an Award of Excellence and Special Achievement Award for Arviligruaq Ilinniarvik School, Kurgaaruk, Nunavut, one of our prestigious northern projects.
Peter Pitseolak High School Wins Outstanding Designs Award
The Peter Pitseolak High School was awarded an Outstanding Design Award in the August 2020 American School & University Educational Interiors Showcase, Common Areas category.
Parkin Principal Lynne Wilson Orr Appointed Fellowship by the RAIC
Parkin Principal, Lynne Wilson Orr, was made a Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada.
Publications, Conferences and Speaking Engagements
Robin Snell Participates in the New Healthcare Facility Mock-up Evaluation Guidelines
Parkin Director Robin Snell was an “Expert Reviewer” and was able to extend his expertise for the Health Quality Council of Alberta’s Healthcare Facility Mock-up Evaluation Guidelines: Using Simulation to Optimize Return on Investment (ROI) for Quality and Patient Safety.
Parkin volunteers worked with WHO and IFHE to target COVID19 requirements
In collaboration with HH Angus, Parkin volunteered its healthcare design expertise to complete a technical report for the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Federation of Healthcare Engineering (IFHE) to assist L’Hopital provincial de Doba, Tchad, with its COVID-19 strategies.
Parkin Director Presented at European Healthcare Design Congress
Parkin Director Robin Snell, along with Saleh Kalantari of Cornell University presented at the virtual European Healthcare Design 2020 Congress.
Parkin Principal, Lynne Wilson Orr, participated in the virtual panel discussion to share her expertise and insight on how to create spaces for COVID-19 patients at the Canadian Centre for Healthcare Facilities (CCHF) virtual panel discussions of leaders across the regions.
Project Updates
Parkin working with the University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa commissioned Parkin Architects Limited to undertake a master planning and feasibility study to assist in the development of a multi-story Heavy Wet Laboratory at the Ottawa Health Science Centre.
Bayers Lake Community Outpatient Centre Reached Financial Close
The province of Nova Scotia has officially announced that the Bayers Lake Community Outpatient Centre project has been awarded to EllisDon Infrastructure Healthcare (EDIH) to design, build, finance, and maintain. Parkin is proud to be a part of the winning team.
Official Groundbreaking for Lakeridge Health and Northwest Healthcare
Lakeridge Health and Northwest Healthcare Properties REIT officiated a groundbreaking to commence construction of the Jerry Coughlan Health & Wellness Centre on Tuesday, August 18, 2020.
Progress Update at S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena
The S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena project is nearing completion. The ice plant has been commissioned, the Gymnasium and walking track flooring installation has commenced and final finishes for millwork, display cases and lobby work were all well underway. Plumbing and lighting and FF&E items were installed. Exterior improvements are underway and final cladding elements are coming to a close.
Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex Expansion
The Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex (WMRC) expansion was well underway. On May 1, 2020, the provincial government revised its guidelines regarding municipal construction projects; the WMRC project proceeded as planned.
Progress at Royal Inland Hospital’s Patient-care Tower
Construction of the patient-care tower at Royal Inland Hospital amidst the COVID-19 pandemic progressed. The building envelope wall sheathing, window framing and soffit sheathing at the north and east sections of the tower was nearing completion. Inside, the metal framing for interior partitions along with steel door frame installation was almost finished for the two underground parking levels and up to level three. Concrete was poured at several levels allowing for completion of various steel installations. Steel structures were erected for atrium areas and bridges. Mechanical and electrical rough ins were ongoing and nearing completion.
New Corner Brook Hospital Update
The New Corner Brook Acute Care Hospital in Newfoundland is well under construction. The team of Parkin and B+H Architects will reach 50% Contract Documents at the end of July. Our team is pleased to be working on this exciting project in Newfoundland.
York Regional Police, #1 District Headquarters preparing for construction
The Regional Municipality of York Police Services Board selected Parkin Architects Limited for the new build of #1 District Headquarters, to be located on a 2.86 acres site at 429 Harry Walker Parkway South in Newmarket.
Converting Hotels into Alternative Level of Care at Queensway Carleton Hospital
Parkin worked with Queensway Carleton Hospital (QCH) in the conversion of assigned floor area at the Fairfield Inn and Suites into a temporary Alternative Level of Care (ALC) Centre, accommodating elders transferred from the hospital’s Acute Care for Elders (ACE) Centre. The new space at the hotel was essential to free up the hospital’s 32-bed ACE so that it could accommodate elderly COVID-19 patients.
Parkin is excited to be a part of a team that worked on a series of portable testing centres. The pods are screening approximately 130 people per hour per window. The pods are designed to operate as smart screening and testing for COVID-19 providing a comfortable and safe environment for testers all year round.
First phase of The Walter and Maria Schroeder BRAIN & HEART Centre at St. Michael’s Hospital
Major renovations to The Walter and Maria Schroeder BRAIN & HEART Centre at St. Michael’s Hospital were designed by Parkin, in conjunction with significant staff and physician feedback on how to improve workflow, staff safety, and delivery of patient care. The new Catheterization Lab 3 is the largest of its kind at St. Michael’s.
Blogs Posts and Articles
Just in case you haven’t read our 2020 blogs, here are some of the top blog posts from the past year:
Using Colour in Institutional Design Sectors
Our EDAC Committee: Looking Back and Moving Forward
Hospital Design in the Age of COVID-19
Creating Safer Environments During COVID-19
Asking the Right Questions: Designing for COVID-19
Following the Right Channels to Accommodate for COVID-19
Replanning the Return to Work Amidst COVID-19
Marketing from a Physical Distance
Nature’s Impact in Mental Health Facilities
Capturing the Healing Effects of Nature in Mental Health Facility Design
Patient-Centred Bedroom Design at Winnipeg’s HSC Women’s Hospital
Top Trends in Modern Laboratory Design
Environmental Design Solutions to Reduce Medication Errors in Healthcare Facilities