The new 430,000 sq. ft. re-development project expansion at the Gene Zwozdesky Centre at Norwood will help with the growing need in the Edmonton area for continuing care capacity including complex and post-acute care.

It will improve the operation of the acute care and continuing care systems in Edmonton by reducing the demand for emergency department visits, inpatient acute care services, and reducing continuing care placement. The design contains 244 long-term care beds used for a variety of complex continuing care patient types such as acute brain injury (ABI), chronic ventilation & respiratory, dementia, & post-acute care. The facility also features a 90,000 sq. ft. clinical space including a specialty dental clinic with 10 operatories, a hemodialysis program with 25 dialysis stations, respiratory therapy clinic, and 10 specialty CHOICE (Comprehensive Home Option of Integrated Care for the Elderly) overnight rooms and education & research space.

Canem’s scope of work included all electrical and low-voltage systems such as distribution, lighting & lighting control, fire alarm, security, data & healthcare systems. The security systems work involved access control, CCTV, and intercom system. Health care systems included nurse-call, real-time locating services, and wireless staff communication systems.

The project involved the complex integration of electrical and mechanical systems within the new facility to meet client requirements. It also required the integration of all security and healthcare systems with existing client services in the adjacent CapitalCare campus and Glenrose & Royal Alexandra Hospital. The building included two pedways (one above ground and one below) to the existing continuing care building to connect to the current hospital services. Special care was required at all times when working through fully operational facilities.