University Hospital of Northern British Columbia - Acute Care Tower

Last week, the UHNBC Acute Care Tower project team had the privilege of visiting the newly opened Nats’oojeh Hospital and Health Center in Fort St. James, a facility that marks a significant milestone in rural health care for Northern BC.

This visit provided an opportunity to engage with staff, explore the facility’s design, and gather insights into how the built environment supports care delivery. The goal was to better understand how design choices influence workflow, patient experience, and operational efficiency - knowledge that will inform the development of the new tower.

A Tour of Innovation

The tour highlighted how thoughtful design can enhance both patient care and staff collaboration. From the layout of clinical spaces to the integration of natural light and culturally safe spaces, every detail seemed to reflect a deep understanding of the needs of rural health care.

The team heard directly from staff about what’s working well and where there are opportunities for improvement. These conversations were invaluable, offering real-world feedback that will help shape the tower's design.

Highlights from the Day

The visit included a guided walkthrough of several key areas:

🌿 Primary Care Area – Exploring how the space supports continuity of care and patient access.

🤝 Staff Rooms – Observing how design fosters collaboration and well-being.

🛏️ Acute Care Patient Rooms – Learning how layout and features enhance patient comfort and safety.

🌳 Outdoor Green Spaces – Experiencing the calming effect of nature-integrated design.

⚙️ Basement Facilities – Understanding the infrastructure that supports daily operations.

🌞 Rooftop Spaces – Seeing how even the roof contributes to functionality and sustainability.

📷 Scroll down to view photos from the visit.

Looking Ahead

Site visits like this play a critical role in the planning process. Health care spaces are more than buildings, they’re environments that shape experiences, outcomes, and relationships.

We’re grateful to the team at Nats’oojeh Hospital and Health Center for welcoming us and sharing their journey. Their insights will help ensure that the new tower reflects the needs and aspirations of the communities we serve.

As part of the UHNBC Acute Care Tower project, we want to share what we know so far about the helipad, and what’s still to come.

Will there be a helipad?

Yes. The Government of British Columbia and the Ministry of Health have committed to including a helipad. This means that air ambulance access will be part of the overall project.

What stage is the planning at?

While the helipad will be built, the specific design and location details are still being worked out. These will be addressed during the design phase of the project, which is expected to begin later this year.

Why is a helipad important?

A helipad will significantly improve emergency transport options, especially for patients coming from remote or rural communities across Northern BC.

What happens next?

We’re working closely with our partners to ensure the helipad is thoughtfully integrated into the overall design of the project. More information will be shared as planning progresses.

Where can I stay informed?

We’ll continue to share updates on this site as the project moves into the design phase.

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!