Centre for Health Complexity

The centre will support children up to 19 years of age who are living with complex, chronic health conditions.

Patients we will serve  

Children and youth with health complexity. This includes those that:

• have medical conditions that affect multiple body systems and structures
• need help with daily activities such as eating and moving
• save significant medical caregiving requirements

Due to advances in health care and technology, more children with health complexity are living longer lives. They represent less than 1 per cent of the pediatric population, but up to 33 per cent of child health provincial spending, and more than half of pediatric hospitalizations. Coordinated care for these children and families is an essential need.

The new centre for health complexity will fill key gaps in care for these children and their families to support their function, quality of life, and wellbeing.  

The centre will provide three core services:

• Care coordination: connect families with services within the health system and across sectors and improve collaboration and communication between those involved in the child’s care.
• Specialized training and education: equip families to confidently care for their child at home. This service will also train health-care providers and other professionals to support children with health complexity in the communities in which they live.
• Family wellness and support services: provide emotional support and social connection for parents, caregivers, and siblings

We will offer services virtually and in person for children who live across B.C. and Yukon. The centre will include 16 dedicated suites for children and families for short, planned stays to access the centre’s services.

We are designing the new building and services with extensive input from patients, families and caregivers, clinical and non-clinical staff, operational leaders, Indigenous partners and other care and service providers who work with children with health complexity.  

A 74-space community daycare will be built on the site and will be operated independently from the centre. 

Capital budget and timeline

The capital cost of the project is $309.896 million, with $40 million supported by the BC Children's Hospital Foundation, along with an additional $20 million for building enhancements.

Project schedule and milestones – subject to change:

• Business plan submitted: fall 2021
• Business plan approved: spring 2022
• Rezoning: winter 2022 – winter 2023
• Development permit: spring 2023 – fall 2024
• Procurement: spring 2023 - summer 2024
• Demolition: fall 2023 - fall 2024
• Design-build contract award: summer 2024
• Detailed design: summer 2024 - spring 2026
• Building permit: fall 2024 - summer 2025
• Construction: winter 2025 - winter 2027
• Facility opens: early 2028

All work at the site follows City of Vancouver noise control bylaw 6555. We inform neighbours by email and mail flyers of any exemptions to the bylaw. You can sign up to receive regular construction updates through our e-newsletter.

Building design and construction

We are designing a unique, purpose-built facility to effectively meet the needs of the children, families, caregivers, and health-care providers who will use the new centre. We chose the design-builder Ledcor through a two-step competitive process. The architectural partner is Diamond Schmitt and the landscape architect is Connect Landscape Architecture.  

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Design features

The 120,524-square-foot centre will include several innovative spaces tailored for children with health complexity and their families:

• three-level accessible ramp and multi-storey atrium  
• All-Nations space, outdoor plaza, and healing garden for Indigenous patients and families
• sixteen patient and family suites for short, planned overnight stays, with family kitchen and dining areas  
• family resource centre and sibling support centre
• access to the outdoors from all levels through courtyards and patios

News

• Preparation for construction begins at BC Children's Hospital centre for health complexity site (August 28, 2024)
• Centre for children with health complexity moves closer to construction (August 22, 2024)
• Redefining health-care infrastructure for children with complex needs (October 27, 2023)
• Designing a brand-new clinical program for children with health complexity (July 26, 2023)
• Centre for children with complex care needs takes shape with new renderings (May 23, 2023)
• Complex care centre for young people moves forward (May 17, 2023)
• Families test layout of patient suites for new centre for children with health complexity (December 8, 2022)
• From smallpox hospital to new centre for children and youth with health complexity (July 4, 2022)
• Centre for young people with extraordinary health needs takes next step (April 22, 2022)

Contact us

For questions or to get involved, contact slocaninfo@phsa.ca or join our mailing list to receive regular updates on the project.