Preferred proponent selected for the Centre for Addiction and Mental Healh
hospital project

TORONTO , Oct. 16 /CNW/ - The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and Infrastructure Ontario announced today that Carillion Health Solutions is the preferred proponent selected to design, build, finance and maintain Phase 1B of CAMH's capital redevelopment project. As the preferred proponent, Carillion Health Solutions is in the process of negotiating a final contract with CAMH and Infrastructure Ontario.

Phase 1B of CAMH's 27-acre redevelopment project will provide a change from the institutional campus at 1001 Queen St . West and bring CAMH one step closer towards its vision of providing high-quality and integrated mental health and addiction care in a revitalized urban village.

This phase will dramatically transform the site with the demolition of the existing administration building on Queen Street West and the construction of three new state-of-the art buildings: the Intergenerational Wellness Centre, the CAMH Gateway Building, and the Utilities and Parking building.

    
    The new Intergenerational Wellness Centre will include:
    -   12 new beds - the first of their kind in Canada - dedicated to youth
        dealing with both mental illness and addictions issues; and
    -   the Geriatric Mental Health Program, which combines 48 in-patient
        beds with a suite of outpatient programming and supports.
    

The CAMH Gateway Building will house outpatient services, key central clinical services, and administrative functions. The Utilities and Parking Building combines a new central plant and parking.

This project will create hundreds of construction jobs and spur economic activities across the Greater Toronto Area.

"We're closer than ever to transforming CAMH and creating a community setting in downtown Toronto " said Dr. Paul Garfinkel , CAMH President and CEO. This project will help to improve the quality of life of our clients and contribute to revitalizing our neighbourhood."

The selection of Carillion Health Solutions is the result of an extensive evaluation process which followed a request for proposals process that began in January 2009 . The Carillion Health Solutions team includes Vanbots a division of Carillion Canada Inc. Carillion Canada FM services, Stantec Architecture, Scotia Capital.

Following successful negotiations with Carillion Health Solutions, the project is expected to reach commercial close and financial close in December 2009 , which will mean that relevant contracts have been signed, a financing rate has been set, the project's cost are finalized, and funds have been made available for the project. Project costs will be announced publicly following financial close of the project. Construction is expected to begin shortly thereafter in early 2010.

Infrastructure Ontario and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care are working with CAMH to develop this next phase of the new hospital, which will remain publicly owned, publicly controlled and publicly accountable. Infrastructure Ontario is a Crown corporation dedicated to managing some of the province's larger and more complex infrastructure renewal projects - ensuring they are built on time and on budget.

Visit www.infrastructureontario.ca for more information.

Disponible en français

    
    Backgrounder
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The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) is a teaching and research hospital, fully affiliated with the University of Toronto . CAMH uses the latest in scientific advances (i.e., integrated clinical practice, health promotion, education, policy and research) to transform the lives of people affected by addiction and mental illness.

Centre for Addition and Mental Health Phase 1B Redevelopment Project

Phase 1B is one step in the multi-phased redevelopment of 1001 Queen Street West , located in Toronto . The redevelopment project will transform an institutional campus into an urban village setting. Phase 1B includes construction of three new buildings: the Intergenerational Wellness Centre, a client care building for CAMH's Child, Youth & Family and Geriatric Mental Health Programs; the CAMH Gateway Building, an outpatient, administration and facility support building, as well as a gymnasium; and a Utilities and Parking Building that combines a new central plant, and parking facilities. In total, over 450,000 square feet of new space will be created in this phase.

    
    Child, Youth and Family Program

    -   The Intergenerational Wellness Centre will provide capacity for
        12 new beds for youths aged 14 to 18 who are dealing with both mental
        health and addiction issues - a vulnerable and high-needs group.
    -   The youth inpatient beds are the first of their kind in Canada,
        answering the need for high-quality care to under serviced groups.
    -   The new beds will complement CAMH's existing Child, Youth & Family
        outpatient services

    Integration of Mental Health and Addiction Programs

    -   The Geriatric Mental Health Program will combine 48 inpatient beds
        with a suite of outpatient programming and supports.
    -   Integrating inpatient and outpatient programs in one building will
        simplify and improve client access to CAMH's programs and reflect its
        client-centered philosophy of care.
    -   Addiction and mental health treatment will be integrated at the Queen
        Street hub and no longer split between different locations.
    -   The co-location of addiction and mental health professionals will
        increase collaboration between CAMH staff and improve results for
        clients, particularly the significant per cent who have both
        disorders.

    Other transformations

    -   A new outpatient and administrative building, the CAMH Gateway
        Building, will be used for outpatient programming, administration,
        facility support and a new gymnasium.
    -   The Utilities and Parking Building will combine a new central plant
        and an above-grade parking garage.
    

The three new buildings will feature large windows, which will provide plenty of natural light and green features such as a green wall. All the buildings will be LEED certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).

A private courtyard for CAMH clients, generous sidewalks and tree-lined boulevards, will also be featured on the site.

Phase 1B redevelopment project, will begin with the demolition of the existing Administration Building in early 2010. Construction of the three new buildings is scheduled to be completed in late 2012.

For further information: Michael Torres, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, [phone]; Paulette den Elzen, Infrastructure Ontario, [phone]