Graham Design Builders prepared for the winter months by implementing their frost protection plan to maintain temperature levels of the foundation subgrade, thereby allowing concrete work to continue through the winter and protecting the ground from frost. This included procuring and installing ground thaw machines and natural gas lines.

Graham has sourced a new-to-market temperature monitoring system to complement the ground thaw machines. The new system provides real-time temperatures of the subgrade to their cellular devices and allows them to turn down or shut off the heaters when they’re not needed. It also ensures compliance, reduces costs, and helps the environment.

Graham has taken a different approach to ground heating with the use of natural gas instead of diesel. Natural gas is more reliable, cleaner to run, eliminates greenhouse gas emissions from regular fuel deliveries, and reduces the amount of greenhouse gas producing fuel being used. Diesel units can have limitations, be prone to mechanical issues in colder weather, and typically run for shorter periods of time to remove frost as opposed to preventing it.

Typically, a ground thaw machine is supplied and installed as a single all-in-one unit. Graham acquired a system that was installed as individual units that work in unison to run cleaner and limit potential re-work or replacement. Individual units also keep a consistent heat to the multiple lines to prevent frost and reduce the volume of glycol that would typically be lost in the event of a line failure.

How does the ground thaw system work?

• There are five individual glycol boilers, and each boiler is 1.8 million BTU.
• The boiler heats the glycol and supplies a fluid exchanger pump with a 2-inch supply and 2-inch return line – which is the main heating element of the system.
• The hot glycol runs through the plate exchanger and back to the heating unit.
• The use of the fluid exchanger pump keeps the fluid from the heating unit separate from the fluid in the field.
• From the fluid exchanger pump, 2-inch supply and return hoses are connected to 2-10 port manifolds.
• From the manifolds, soft ¾-inch glycol lines are connected and run for a maximum length of 1,000 feet.
• This creates a full system where the glycol is pumped from the heating unit to the fluid exchanger pump, which then heats the glycol that’s circulating through the ¾ hose and manifolds therefore resulting in warm, frost-free ground.

How does the new temperature monitoring system work?

• The temperature sensors are placed strategically throughout the site and at various depths.
  • The depths are chosen based on the depth of the footings – some are placed at the bottom, some in the middle, and some shallow.
• A cellular enabled control node collects data at a set frequency (ex: 15 minutes) and then the information is sent to the Cloud where Graham can access the data.
• From the control node, there is an expansion box that can be hooked up to six temperature sensors.
• The system also notifies Graham automatically if/when temperatures drop below a certain set threshold.

The holidays are just around the corner and everyone deserves a little break!

Our project team members are taking some much needed time off after a busy year of major milestones. They'll be spending time with their families, celebrating the holidays, and re-charging for the new year - and we hope you get to do the same! Work on site will also slow down between December 22 and January 2.

We wish you and your loved ones a happy and healthy holiday season and new year!

Stay tuned for more updates on the DCDH Project in 2024!

The Project Management Office decorated their construction Christmas tree to get involved in the holiday celebrations at the hospital.

Interested in learning more about what the current Dawson Creek & District Hospital has in comparison to what the new hospital will have? Check out this infographic that compares the facility sizes, treatment spaces, programming and services, inpatient beds, and parking spaces!

Download a copy of the infographic to share with your family, friends, and extended network.

There's been a new addition to the Dawson Creek skyline with the installation of the second tower crane.

Check out this timelapse video of the installation process.

Read more about the first tower crane and the important role that cranes play on construction sites.

On Saturday, November 4, Northern Lights College hosted an Open House at their Dawson Creek campus for community members to tour the campus and learn about programs.

Ashley Pannozzo, our Community Engagement Liaison was invited to represent Northern Health and set up a display in the Health Sciences Building. Attendees learned about the DCDH Project, employment opportunities with the current and future hospital, health care career opportunities with Northern Health, pathways into healthcare, and the Grow Our Own program.

The display included the project's fact sheet, employment flyer, draft renderings, sample materials and finishes palettes, and mini shovels!

Did you know? NLC offers a variety of health and human services programs that could help kickstart your journey in health care.

Interested in starting your journey with Northern Health at the newest hospital in the Northeast? There are a number of employment opportunities that need to be filled at the current and future Dawson Creek & District Hospital. Northern Health is also hiring for other positions in the community and across the region. To see all current job postings and apply online, visit http://jobs.northernhealth.ca/.

Download a copy of the DCDH Employment Flyer to share with friends, family or colleagues.

There are a number of positions that need to be filled at the current and future Dawson Creek & District Hospital including:

• Care Aide
• Cook
• Dietitian
• Facility and Maintenance Worker
• Food Services Worker
• Health Information Professional
• Housekeeper
• Indigenous Health Service Assistant
• Indigenous Care Coordinator
• Laboratory Clerk
• Licensed Practical Nurse
• Medical Laboratory Clerk & Technologist
• Medical Imaging Technologist
• Mental Health Clinician & Staff
• Nursing Unit Clerk
• Occupational & Physio Therapist
• Patient Reception Staff
• Pharmacist & Pharmacy Staff
• Physician
• Registered Nurse
• Registration Clerk
• Relational Security Officer
• Respiratory Therapist
• Social Worker
• Stores Attendant

See all current opportunities and apply online at: jobs.northernhealth.ca/

Key contacts for future opportunities:

Northern Health Staff Recruitment

nhjobs@northernhealth.ca

Note: Please do not use this email to submit your resume. Instead, apply online via one of the links below.

Physician Recruitment

physicians@northernhealth.ca

Indigenous Recruitment

indigenousrecruitment@northernhealth.ca

If you’ve driven or walked by the site of the new hospital recently, you might have seen a sea of vibrant orange tarps across the site. Graham is planning and preparing for the winter months and starting to implement their frost protection plan.

It’s fundamental that heat and moisture control is addressed throughout the construction process during the winter months. This includes controlling the temperature and protecting the concrete foundations to avoid a negative impact on the quality of the installation and possible re-work, if not done correctly.

One of the biggest risks during the winter is the frost impact to the deep foundations. Planning and executing the plan has already started and will be an ongoing effort throughout winter. This includes:

• Installing and managing over 800 – 12x24 insulated tarps
• Procuring and installing five 1.8m BTU glycol ground thaw machines that provide heat to over 80,000 lineal feet of glycol lines
  • The glycol lines are spread throughout the foundation subgrade to maintain temperature levels
• Installing a 30-pound natural gas line to the site with a 5-pound distribution centre to 12 locations across the site footprint
  • This ensures there is a fuel supply to any location that heat is required for frost protection
  • It also supports concrete pours throughout the winter
• Elevating stored materials to ensure they don’t freeze into the ground
  • Materials are marked so they know what it is and where it is, in the case of heavy snowfall

Safety of the people working on or visiting the construction site remains a priority. Winter weather creates different challenges and risks that have to be eliminated and controlled, and colder temperatures and snowfall changes how work is done on site.

Special equipment, tools, and materials are procured in preparation for the winter weather including snow shovels, ice melt, sand or rock chips, and skid steer attachments. Snow clearing is completed before shift start to limit interaction with the public and construction personnel. Workers are constantly clearing snow, removing ice, working on safe access over tarps, moving heaters and glycol lines, setting up hoardings and running extension cords.

The amount of planning hours and labor-intensive work that goes into preparing the site for winter helps ensure that workers and visitors can safely gain access to the construction site and work safely at all times.

A new hospital for the community means more than just investing in health-care, it also means economic opportunities for the region. Construction on the new hospital just started, but local businesses and workers are already involved in and benefiting from the project.

Wherever possible, Graham Design Builders LP is prioritizing working with and hiring local and regional businesses. Local hospitality businesses are also benefitting from workers being in town and renting hotel rooms or houses for weeks or months at a time.

Check out this document (Local and regional businesses) to view the list of just some of the local and regional businesses that are already involved in the project - which we will continue to update as the project progresses.

Graham, through their subcontractors, have also already hired a number of local labourers and apprentices to work on site – with more opportunities to come. They will advertise employment opportunities on various platforms such as Indeed, Kijiji, and LinkedIn as well as on the Graham Careers page.

A project of this size requires a large workforce and Graham is committed to filling as many positions as possible with people from the local community and region. During the peak of construction, there will be approximately 350-375 workers on-site. As the project progresses, the number of out-of-town workers is expected to increase as more specialized skills, not always available locally, are needed.

Graham plans to work closely with Northern Lights College’s Trades and Apprenticeships department to provide eligible students with apprenticeship training. Northern Health has also been reaching out to local and regional Indigenous communities to share these opportunities with the economic development and employment and training departments.

Check out our other post - Interested in business and employment opportunities? to view the list of current and upcoming awards and business opportunities.

Businesses interested in getting involved with the project are encouraged to send information about their services and product offerings to Graham Design Builders via email to dawsoncreekhospital@graham.ca.

Local workers and apprentices who are interested in working on the project are also encouraged to send their resume to Graham Design Builders via email to dawsoncreekhospital@graham.ca.

Project status update

Where we’ve come from

Since our last update, the project has reached a number of significant milestones following the execution of the Design Build Agreement with Graham Design Builders LP (Graham).

Over the summer, a lot of work was completed on site including tree clearing, installing perimeter fencing, stripping the top soil, setting up site office trailers, and bulk excavation – which involved approximately 56,000m³ of material being removed from the site.

In addition, work on a new sidewalk and temporary parking lot has been completed to accommodate workers that will be on site throughout the project.

Where we’re at

The Dawson Creek skyline has a new look with the first of two tower cranes being installed on site. Once the second crane is installed, they will remain on site for the next 16 months.

Fun fact: Crane #1 is 165 feet tall with a jib length of 75 metres and crane #2 will be 135 feet tall with a jib length of 60 metres.

Workers have started pouring concrete for the footings and foundation walls for the basement.

The fifth round of User Consultation Meetings were held for clinical users to provide input on clinical design, room layouts, work surfaces, millwork, equipment quantities and locations, and much more.

What’s next

Throughout the winter, work will continue on the concrete super structure. In February, work will begin on the level 1 suspended slab. In early 2024, we will receive the formal 95% design submission.

Other exciting news

Groundbreaking celebrations

In late-July, a small group gathered on site to dig the ceremonial hole and celebrate the start of construction.

The Project Management Office also hosted a staff celebration and staff were invited down to meet the project team, view draft renderings of the new hospital, and enjoy cupcakes and snacks.

Presentations for the Chambers of Commerce

The Dawson Creek, Chetwynd and Fort St. John Chambers of Commerce hosted a series of luncheons for their members with the topic of discussion being the DCDH Replacement Project.

Ashley Pannozzo, DCDH Community Engagement Liaison and Dave Corcoran, VP of Health Care for Graham presented a project status update and shared information about upcoming business and employment opportunities.

Employment and business opportunities with the project

A new hospital for the community means more than just investing in health-care, it also means economic opportunities for the region. Construction only began a couple of months ago, but locals are already involved and benefiting from the project.

Graham is responsible for all hiring and contracting related to the construction of the new hospital. Wherever possible, they are prioritizing working with and hiring local and regional businesses. They are also committed to filling as many positions as possible with people from the local community and region. During the peak of construction, there will be over 300 workers on-site.

Interested in employment, apprenticeship training, business opportunities and/or subcontracts? Submit a resume and/or send information about services and product offerings to Graham via email to dawsoncreekhospital@graham.ca.

Construction camera

The DCDH Construction Camera is now available! That means any day, any time, you can see what progress is being made on the construction of the new hospital.

You can see a live snapshot, zoom in and out and side to side, compare photos from different days, go back in time for archived snapshots, and view monthly timelapses.

Interested in learning more?

Contact us directly

Reach out to Ashley Pannozzo, our Community Engagement Liaison Officer, for the Dawson Creek and District Hospital Replacement Project at LetsTalkDCDH@northernhealth.ca.

Last week, the Chetwynd Chamber of Commerce hosted their first "Mind Your Business" luncheon of the year. Ashley Pannozzo, DCDH Community Engagement Liaison and Dave Corcoran, VP of Health Care for Graham Design Builders shared an update on the project and upcoming businesses and employment opportunities.