Stevenson Memorial Hospital: Expanding care with a strategic, future-ready design

Kasian is currently in the Contract Administration phase of the Early Works for the major redevelopment of Stevenson Memorial Hospital in Alliston, Ontario.

At project inception, our team conducted a thorough review of the existing Stage 1.2 Master Plan, which had been prepared by a previous consultant and submitted to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC). Our analysis identified significant construction challenges in the proposed redevelopment strategy, as it involved direct attachment to the existing inpatient wing, which requires full operational continuity throughout the redevelopment period. The adjacency to and reliance on the existing facility rendered the initial Master Plan infeasible from both constructability and logistical perspectives.

Kasian re-evaluated the sloped and heavily serviced site and explored alternative approaches that would ensure uninterrupted hospital operations while facilitating efficient, phased construction. Our design team developed and presented a revised Master Plan that strategically positioned a new, standalone—yet connected—facility adjacent to the existing hospital. This innovative solution introduced an internal courtyard, which maintained fire egress pathways, preserved access to natural light for both the existing and future facilities, and enabled the construction of the expansion without disrupting critical hospital functions. The new design also reduced the building’s footprint by reconfiguring the program across four levels instead of three, thereby creating more space on site for parking and landscaping.

This reimagined Master Plan was endorsed by both the client and the MOHLTC, and Kasian was authorized to proceed with the design based on this new direction. The revised approach delivers several key benefits: reduced construction risk and complexity, minimized building footprint and walking distances, a shorter overall construction schedule, and improved daylighting and access to outdoor space for patients and staff.

The new building will house all of the hospital’s acute care programs, including an Emergency Department with four ambulance bays; a Surgery Unit with three operating rooms; a Birthing Unit with five Labor, Delivery, Recovery, and Postpartum (LDRP) and a dedicated C-section OR; and Inpatient Beds covering Medical/Surgical, ICU, Mental Health, and Palliative Care. These clinical programs will be supported by essential support services such as a Laboratory, Pharmacy, Medical Device Reprocessing (MDR), and Materials Management—including new clean and soiled loading docks. The site planning scope also includes provisions for an elevated helipad, currently under construction as part of the Early Works.