University Hospital of Northern British Columbia - Acute Care Tower

Through the UHNBC Acute Care Tower project, we’re making strides to expand mental health and substance use services and bring stronger, more accessible care to Northern BC.

The natural beauty of Northern BC inspires a sense of calm and connection to the land, an influence that’s shaping the early design vision for mental health and substance use spaces in the new tower. While planning is still underway, the goal is to incorporate healing-centered elements like natural light and soothing aesthetics to support wellness and recovery.

Growing Capacity for Mental Health and Substance Use Care

What’s Changing:

Take a behind-the-scenes look with Sunil, our Chief Project Officer, as he walks us through the impressive 8-storey parkade taking shape at UHNBC in Prince George, an essential part of the upcoming $1.66 billion acute care tower project.

Since construction began in April 2024, the team has poured over 8,200 square meters of concrete and installed 1 million kilos of steel to create 471 parking stalls and 90 bike spaces. With 330,000 liters of underground tank capacity and more than 114,000 hours of work already invested, this is far more than just a parking structure, it’s a major leap forward in patient and staff access.

Completion is on track for October 2025.

🎥 Catch Sunil’s full walkthrough in this CKPG Today feature

Sunil shares the inside scoop before making the climb to the top of the eighth storey.

Sunil and CKPG reporter Caden Fanshaw stand atop the parkade at UHNBC, offering a sky-high view of progress in motion.

Stay tuned right here for weekly updates as construction moves forward! Got questions or something you'd like to share? Drop a comment below, we’re always glad to hear from you.

This week, the UHNBC Acute Care Tower project team took a field trip to the University Hospital of Northern British Columbia to learn more about how things work in the Medical Imaging Department - and how it all fits into the exciting new tower project.

What is Acute Care?
Acute care refers to the short-term treatment of patients experiencing severe or urgent medical conditions. It includes services such as emergency care, surgery, intensive care, and diagnostic imaging, making it a critical component of any hospital infrastructure.

During our visit, we had the chance to tour the entire department, guided by Dr. Elshazly, Shelly Todd (Diagnostics Manager), and Roma Toor (Director, Clinical Operations UHNBC), with a special focus on the Nuclear Medicine area.

The new StarGuide SPECT/CT scanner in the Nuclear Medicine department - bringing advanced imaging technology to support faster, more accurate diagnoses.

What is Nuclear Medicine?
Nuclear medicine is a specialized area of medical imaging that uses small amounts of radioactive material to diagnose and treat diseases. It provides unique insights into how organs and tissues are functioning, information that’s often not available through other imaging techniques.

We also got a glimpse of the Interventional Radiology Suite, where minimally invasive procedures are performed using real-time imaging guidance.

A health care professional demonstrates how the Interventional Radiology (IR) machine moves and operates, giving our team a closer look at its capabilities. The scanner was made possible in part by donations from Spirit of the North.

What is Interventional Radiology?
This field is a medical specialty that uses real-time imaging, like X-rays, CT scans, and ultrasounds, to guide tiny instruments inside the body. This allows doctors to diagnose and treat a wide range of conditions with pinpoint accuracy, often without the need for traditional surgery. The result? Less risk, less pain, and a much quicker recovery for patients.

To round out the experience, we spent time in the Nuclear Medicine waiting area, which features an interactive projected floor, a thoughtful touch, especially since appointments in this department can sometimes mean long days at the hospital. The floor lights up and responds to movement, offering a bit of light-hearted comfort for patients and families. The space also includes large, comfortable chairs to help make the wait a little more relaxing.

The interactive floor in the waiting area lights up and responds to movement - like stepping into a giant video game.

The Medical Imaging Department at UHNBC already offers a range of advanced cardiac diagnostics and procedures, and with the upcoming Acute Care Tower, these services are set to grow even further.

One example is pacemaker insertion, a procedure where a small electronic device is implanted under the skin to help manage irregular heart rhythms. This life-saving technology is already being delivered by the team, and the expanded space and resources in the new tower will allow for even more comprehensive cardiac care.

This visit was a valuable step in ensuring that the new tower is designed with both clinical efficiency and patient experience in mind. We’re excited to continue learning and collaborating as the project moves forward!

Construction of the brand-new parkade kicked off on April 22, 2024, and we’re on track to wrap things up by fall 2025. But while we’re busy building an 8-level parking structure with 471 much-needed stalls, there’s one thing we never put on the back burner: safety.

Here’s how we’re keeping things secure, smooth, and stress-free on-site:

🔐 Only the cool kids (with ID) get in

• Only authorized personnel are allowed in, and everyone checks in and out like clockwork.

☀️ Morning huddles with a purpose

• Every day starts with a quick safety chat.
• We cover everything from weather hazards to equipment checks.

🦺 Gear up

• Helmets? Check. Steel-toed boots? Check. High-vis vests? You bet.
• Everyone on-site is suited up to stay safe.

👀 Safety Officers on patrol

• Our safety pros are always on the move, making sure everything’s up to code and running smoothly.

🚦 Traffic control

• With a hospital close by, we’ve got clear signage and barriers to keep vehicles and pedestrians away from the site.

🆘 Ready for anything

• First aid kits? Stocked. Emergency plans? Practiced.
• Our crew knows exactly what to do if something unexpected happens.

🏗️ Building for the future, safely

This parkade isn’t just a place to park, it’s a launchpad for the upcoming acute care tower and a big step forward for health care in Northern BC. By keeping safety front and center, we’re making sure the journey from blueprint to reality is as smooth as possible.

Stay tuned!
We’ll keep sharing updates as we go, so you can follow along as this exciting project takes shape.

We’re excited to share the most up-to-date look at what the new parkade will look like!

This rendering showcases the modern, multi-level design of our upcoming parking structure. With open sides for natural light and ventilation, and greenery thoughtfully planted around the perimeter, this parkade is designed with both functionality and aesthetics in mind. When you're visiting the hospital, this new facility will make parking easier and more convenient.

🌿 What’s New?

• Spacious multi-level layout
• Sleek concrete construction
• Natural ventilation and lighting
• Greenery around the perimeter

Be sure to check back here every week for updates as construction progresses. Got questions or thoughts? Drop them in the comments below - we’d love to hear from you!

Meet the incredible team driving the expansion at the University Hospital of Northern BC (UHNBC)!

This project stands out thanks to the alliance model, which unites the owner, designers, and contractors into a single, cohesive team. This collaborative approach guarantees that every member is committed to the project's success. Read on to discover each team member in their action-figure form! 🦸

Sunil is a professional engineer with over 35 years of experience. He joined Northern Health in 2022 and is known for his strategic vision and ability to manage complex projects.

Sherri brings a wealth of experience in both clinical operations and capital planning. When she's not working, Sherri enjoys spending time with her dog and expressing her creativity through quilting.Carolann is new to Northern Health and brings several years of experience in project management and customer service. In her free time, she enjoys baking and hiking. Deb is a CPA with over 25 years of experience and has been with Northern Health since 2008. Outside of work, she enjoys trail running with her dog and playing volleyball.Guy is a professional engineer who recently joined Northern Health. When he's not working, he enjoys spending time with his family and mountain biking.Max is a professional engineer who recently joined Northern Health. Outside of work, he enjoys mountain biking and fishing, embracing the great outdoors whenever he can.Emily brings a great mix of skills in communications, marketing strategy, and public relations to the project. In her free time, she enjoys reading, watching movies, and spending quality time with her family.Nikhil has a solid background in clinical engineering and health technology. Outside of work, he enjoys playing guitar and spending time with his family.

Jack has been with Northern Health for over 9 years. He loves exploring the outdoors, camping, and a good cup of coffee.

Mehdi is new to Northern Health and brings over 15 years of experience as a seasoned healthcare facility planner and architect. Outside of work, he enjoys cooking, biking, and hiking.

Zandria is new to Northern Health and comes with over 12 years of experience working in healthcare. In her spare time, she can generally be found hiking with her two dogs, cycling, kayaking, and fishing.

Check back here each week for fresh updates - and don’t be shy! Drop your questions in the comments, and we’ll be happy to chat.

To make way for the new acute care tower at UHNBC, we're relocating the services currently offered at the Northern Interior Health Unit (NIHU) starting Spring 2026. Discover what each team does and where they're headed below! ⬇️

📍Future Location: China Cup Buffet unit

Specialized Counselling and Consultation (Adults)

➡️ Mental Health Rehabilitation Team: This team helps people with mental health conditions through medical treatment, therapy, social support, and skill-building. They aim to improve overall well-being and help individuals become more independent.

➡️ Community Acute Stabilization Team: This team provides quick, intensive support for adults in severe mental health or addiction crises. They offer treatments and social support to stabilize individuals and prevent hospitalization.

➡️ Community Outreach & Assertive Services Team: This team supports adults with ongoing mental health or addiction issues. They provide community-based mental health and life skills support to promote stability and recovery.

➡️ Adult Addictions Day Treatment Program: This team helps adults with addiction issues through daily support and therapy. The program focuses on recovery, counseling, and life skills training to promote long-term health and well-being.

📍Future Location: The Bay (Second Floor)

Interprofessional Community Teams (IPTs)

These teams provide comprehensive, patient-centered care for adults aged 19 and over dealing with frailty, chronic diseases, or mental health and addiction issues. The team from John G. Mackenzie Family Practice Centre will join IPT3 on the second floor of The Bay to improve patient care and teamwork.

Preventative and Public Health Team

This team promotes and protects the health of individuals, families, schools, and communities. They offer health screenings, education, disease prevention, and universal healthcare services, including prenatal and postpartum support, child immunizations, school-based services, sexual health services, and disease prevention.

Child and Youth Services

➡️ Speech/Language Clinics: The Speech and Language Program partners with families and community organizations to support children with communication needs from birth to kindergarten. Our team enhances speech clarity, fluency, hearing, language, social communication, alternative communication methods, pre-literacy skills, and feeding. The team also assists children at risk for developmental delays, neurodivergent children (e.g., Autism, ADHD), and any child needing support.

➡️ Northern Health Assessment Network: This is a provincial program in Northern BC that provides diagnostic assessments for children and youth (ages 0-18) suspected of having autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or other neurodevelopmental conditions.

Communication Assistance for Youth and Adults

CAYA supports adults aged 19 and older with severe communication disabilities. They provide augmentative/alternative communication (AAC) systems and professional support to help individuals live their best adult lives.

We appreciate your support as we work through this transition together. If you have any questions, please leave a comment below!

To make room for the new acute care tower at UHNBC, we're relocating the services currently offered at the Northern Interior Health Unit (NIHU). This move will keep services close to the hospital, bring related services together, and boost parking availability.

When's the move?
Spring 2026! We're working hard to ensure a smooth transition with minimal disruption.

What's happening to the old building?
The current NIHU building will be demolished in summer 2026 to make way for the new tower, which will offer state-of-the-art facilities for patients and healthcare professionals.

Where are the services going?
The new home for NIHU services will be Parkwood Mall:

• China Cup Buffet unit: The Mental Health Rehabilitation team, the Community Acute Stabilization team, the Community Outreach and Assertive Services team, and the Adult Addictions Day Treatment Program team.
• The Bay (second floor): The Interprofessional Community teams, the Preventative and Public Health team, the Child and Youth Services teams, the Communication Assistance for Youth and Adults team, and the team from the John G. Mackenzie Family Practice Centre.

Parking Perks!
More parking at Parkwood Mall and a new 471-stall parkade next to the BC Cancer Centre for the North will make parking much more accessible.

Team Integration
The John G. Mackenzie Family Practice team is moving too! Their current building will be repurposed as the Project Management Office for the acute care tower project. They'll integrate with one of the Interprofessional Community teams on the second floor of The Bay, improving patient care through teamwork.

We appreciate your support during this transition. If you have any questions, please leave a comment below!

Check out the latest pictures below to see our progress! 📸

The parkade will feature 8 levels, and this week, we successfully poured the first quadrant of Level 4. 🏗️

Read our full post about the construction of the parkade here.

Be sure to check back here for weekly updates and drop any questions you have in the comments.