The University of Ottawa opened the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre in October of 2006. The tower, comprised of a public hospital and its affiliated research institute, the uOttawa Institute of Mental Health Research, features state-of-the-art laboratories and technology. Construction began on the $132-million, 399,178-sf facility in December of 2004. Housing 188 inpatient beds, the hospital consists of nine three-story inpatient care units with a central open-air garden environment. The seven-story tower houses research, administration, and education.
The project was conceived as a public-private partnership and delivery was ensured via a strategy known as Alternative Financing and Procurement. The Healthcare Infrastructure Company of Canada (THICC) was awarded the construction as the partner in the project. THICC is comprised of: Borealis Infrastructure Management Inc.; Oxford Properties Group; Ellis Don Corporation; Carillion Canada; Parkin Architects; and Adamson Associates Architects.
