The Women’s College Hospital in Toronto, Canada was recently bestowed the CARITAS Project’s Seventh Annual Generative Space Award. The 630,000-square-foot facility was completed in March 2016.
Designed by Perkins Eastman Black/IBI Group Architects, judges noted that co-locating functions to avoid people journeying around the building, rescheduling services to allow delivery in a single day, intermixing clinical and education space, engaging in the civic realm —all speak of an environment that breaks down barriers and restores symmetry to the doctor/patient relationship.
In addition, judges praised project stakeholders for attempting to understand the health gaps and barriers women face assessing the healthcare needed. Processes and practices were redesigned to minimize apprehension and provide both integrated and wellness care.
The annual award recognizes breakthrough designs that improve health and healthcare. Projects clearly demonstrate the integration of the physical and social environments to make the community be “A Place to Flourish,” in addition to meeting the following criteria:
- Improves the health and well-being of all
- Improves the performance and effectiveness of the provider organization
- Produces systemic and sustainable improvements over time
- Improvements are measurable and demonstrate documented evidence substantiating these improvements
- Fosters a breadth of improvement ranging from the unique experience of individuals to the establishment of communities that foster health, vitality and well-being
