Building a new PECMH

A new Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital

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The new Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital (PECMH) is being brought to life through the collaboration of our province, Quinte Health, the PECMH Foundation, PECMH Auxiliary, Prince Edward Family Health Team, the municipality, and the community of Prince Edward County.

Every partner, from our medical professionals to the dedicated supporters who have given so generously, is contributing to the future of healthcare in our area.

To all the donors who have so graciously Backed the Build, your contributions are the foundation upon which this dream is being realized. Together, with passion, purpose, and gratitude, we are forging ahead. Each foundation poured, and every piece of timber utilized will stand as a testament to our collective commitment to enhancing local healthcare for today and for generations to come.

Together, with passion, purpose, and gratitude, we are forging ahead to break ground – each foundation poured, and every piece of timber utilized will stand as a testament to our collective commitment to enhancing local healthcare for today and for generations to come.
– Stacey Daub, Quinte Health CEO

The Quinte Health redevelopment team is buzzing with activity, carefully finalizing plans to ensure that the construction proceeds seamlessly. Contractor, M. Sullivan & Son Limited, began initial construction activities in September 2024. We are all working hand in hand to ensure that, while the hospital is being built, operations continue uninterrupted, making sure our community’s healthcare remains as strong as ever during this exciting time of transformation.

Once complete, the new hospital will be a leading-edge health care facility designed to meet the current and future capacity needs of the local community. It will be the most significant change to our local healthcare system since the first county hospital opened in 1919.

The new PECMH will feature:

23 inpatient beds
24/7 emergency department
Acute inpatient unit supported by physicians within the Prince Edward Family Health Team
Inpatient pharmacy
Satellite hemodialysis unit
Ambulatory care, including clinics, medical day care, endoscopy, and medical device reprocessing
Diagnostic imaging including CT scanner, x-ray, ultrasound, mammography, and cardio-diagnostics
Point of Care Laboratory
Efficient access to other Quinte Health hospitals, secondary care in Belleville and tertiary care in Kingston
New helipad

The Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation (PECMHF) is raising $30M to help build a new hospital in Prince Edward County. Thanks to our generous donors, $23M has been raised through our Back the Build campaign.

For more information and to donate:

Help to ‘Back the Build’

Quick Facts

Contractor: M. Sullivan & Son Limited

Architect: HDR Inc.

Location: Picton, Ontario

Projected completion: Fall 2027

Design and Timeline: Infrastructure Ontario

A Sustainable Future

Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital will be the first unencapsulated mass timber hospital built in North America, marking a groundbreaking achievement in sustainable healthcare infrastructure.

More information

A Community-Driven, Eco-Friendly Landscape for a Net Zero Future

The landscape design for the hospital will reflect its innovative architecture and net zero principles. With sustainable elements like bioswales, native and resilient plantings, and thoughtfully planned snow storage, the outdoor spaces will be as functional as they are beautiful. Inspired by the community quilt, the design will incorporate familiar colors and themes, creating an inviting atmosphere that fosters connection.

From quiet gardens for reflection to rooftop spaces for staff breaks, every area will be designed to enhance well-being and provide serene views, visible from within the hospital. This forward-thinking approach not only supports mental health but also promotes sustainability, setting a new standard for eco-friendly, community-focused landscapes in the region.

More information

The overarching goal of the landscape design was to reflect the hospital’s innovative architecture—specifically, its use of mass timber construction and net zero design—by creating an outdoor space that is sustainable, accessible, and welcoming for patients, visitors, and staff alike. This holistic approach means that every design decision was made with a focus on comfort, safety, and long-term environmental health.

Key Considerations of the Design

1. Sustainability and Environmental Impact

In keeping with the net zero principles of the hospital, the landscape design features vegetated swales in the parking lot to slow down stormwater velocity and filter pollutants from stormwater before draining into natural systems.

While we understand concerns about snow removal, we’ve carefully designed snow storage zones throughout the parking lot to ensure this process is efficient. Additionally, the plant species selected for these bioswales are salt-tolerant and able to withstand the variable moisture conditions that are typical of this type of infrastructure.

We have incorporated these features into parking lots on a number of private development sites, long-term care homes and federal campuses.

2. Use of Native and Non-Native Species

While some of the selected species are not native, we have made deliberate choices to prioritize native or native-adjacent cultivars wherever possible. In fact, over 90% of our selected tree species are either native or cultivars of native species. Some of the selected species include the Kentucky Coffeetree, Eastern Redbud, Burr Oak, and Paper Birch. These selections were based on their ability to thrive in specific site conditions, such as road salt exposure, low maintenance requirements, and challenging environmental factors (e.g., height restrictions near helicopter landing zones). Importantly, no invasive species have been used, and the design incorporates expansive naturalized native meadows that will serve as habitat for local wildlife.

Although priority is to native species selection, there is also consideration to the urban conditions they are expected to thrive in.

3. Community Quilt

Both the plant palette and the design of the outdoor gathering space at the back of the hospital were inspired by the meaningful community quilt, donated to the first hospital by the community.

This quilt is a meaningful symbol of the community’s history and spirit, and we wanted the landscape to reflect this connection. By using the colors and themes of the quilt in the landscape design, the outdoor spaces pay homage to the community’s legacy, creating an inviting and familiar atmosphere for everyone who visits.

4. Biophilic and Wellness Design

The landscape around the hospital was designed not only with ecological benefits in mind but also with the well-being of users. There is a variety of spaces for different uses, from areas for eating lunch and visiting with loved ones to quiet gardens meant for reflection and moments of solitude. These outdoor spaces are designed to be visible from the hospital’s large windows, offering patients, visitors, and staff serene views that have been shown to positively impact health and well-being. This also includes rooftop staff spaces, which are intended to offer a peaceful retreat for healthcare workers during their breaks—a crucial aspect of supporting their mental health and promoting resilience.

5. Community Integration

The hospital’s landscape also serves as a landmark for the community, particularly as you enter Prince Edward County. We aimed to create a welcoming and aesthetically pleasing entry experience, one that reflects the progressive and green values of the region. This involved greening the parking areas and minimizing the use of sod in favor of naturalized plantings, which are more sustainable and offer ecological benefits, such as reducing the urban heat island effect.

We understand that new approaches to landscape design can sometimes raise concerns, especially when they involve features like bioswales or non-traditional plant selections. We are confident that the choices made will not only endure over time but will also set a standard for sustainable, community-focused landscapes in the region.

Project Milestones

From concept to completion, track the progress of the new Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital construction.

Winter 2024 – Spring 2025

Phase: Construction
- Start of Geothermal Drilling
- Building Foundations
Spring – Summer 2025

Phase: Construction
- New Helipad Construction
  *Helipad won’t go live until new Hospital opens.
Summer – Fall 2025

Phase: Construction
- Mass Timber Structure
- New MacFarlane Drive Entrance
Spring 2026

Phase: Construction
- Solar Panel installation
Spring – Summer 2026

Phase: Construction
- Mock-up Rooms
Winter 2026

Phase: Construction
- Building Construction Complete
Winter 2026 – Spring 2027

Phase: Transition
- Transition Period
Spring 2027

Phase: Demolition & Site Works
- Building Demolition Start
Fall 2027

Phase: Demolition & Site Works
- New Parking Lot Open
- Total Construction Complete

Recent News

A large group of people stand in front of a bulldozer. Some wear hardhats and hold shovels.

Shovels in the ground – the new Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital build begins!

August 1, 2024

A new Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital is officially becoming a reality! Today, project partners and dignitaries gathered to break ground on the new building.

Contract awarded to build the new PECMH

July 4, 2024

Today, the Ontario government has awarded the contract to build the new Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital (PECMH) to M. Sullivan & Son Limited, giving the green light for construction to begin in the weeks ahead.

PECMH Team Gets Sneak Peek of New Hospital Build

May 6, 2024

On April 30th, about 70 members of the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital (PECMH) team, including staff, physicians, board members, and Auxiliary volunteers, were treated to a peek at the new hospital.