Construction takes flight as Stevenson Memorial builds new elevated helipad

Construction takes flight as Stevenson Memorial builds new elevated helipad

Big changes are taking shape at Stevenson Memorial Hospital, where construction crews have begun work on a new elevated helipad that will help ensure patients continue to get emergency air transport throughout the hospital’s major redevelopment.

Officials say the helipad is one of the first permanent pieces of the Alliston hospital’s long-awaited expansion and is expected to be operational by early 2026.

Wayne Willcott, senior director of corporate infrastructure and redevelopment at Stevenson Memorial Hospital, said the new structure represents both innovation and necessity.

“This is one of the most exciting elements of our early works construction and a critical one at that,” Willcott said. “The new helipad construction is underway now to ensure that we have seamless access to air ambulance services during the construction of our new hospital facility, prioritizing emergency patient care services. It will remain as a permanent structure at the hospital for many years to come.”

The new 71-foot-wide helipad will be elevated about three feet off the ground — a unique design feature officials say is rarely seen in Ontario. Similar styles are used at facilities in western Canada. Once complete, the helipad will go through a certification process with Transport Canada to meet national safety standards before being used for patient transport.

The helipad’s position on the southeast side of the hospital property is intended to improve flight safety during windy conditions and free up more space for future parking. The access pathway leading to the hospital will also be heated to ensure safety and accessibility in winter.

A news release states the helipad is part of Stevenson Memorial’s larger redevelopment project, which will see a brand-new, 147,100-square-foot hospital built around the existing structure. The expansion will more than double the facility’s size, increase inpatient capacity by 20 per cent, triple the size of the Emergency Department, and introduce modernized operating rooms, a new MRI suite, and a revitalized obstetrics unit.

Construction on the new hospital building is scheduled to begin in 2026.

Related

• Ontario injects additional $14.5M for Alliston hospital expansion
• Stevenson Memorial Hospital expansion moves forward with key milestone