ST JOSEPH’S GENERAL HOSPITAL HOSPICE RENOVATION AND ADDITION

“Hospice at the Views” is a 4-bed residential hospice program operated by St. Joseph’s General Hospital, created in partnership with the Comox Valley Hospice Society, Island Health, St. Joseph’s General Hospital Foundation, and the Ministry of Health. The facility’s design goal was to provide a home-like healing environment in which to offer excellent hospice palliative care for patients and their families.

Four new private rooms and baths were designed, as a renovation and addition to the Eagleview Care Wing, to offer a comfortable, calming, and functional environment to meet the needs of the occupants and visitors. The rooms maximize natural light and fresh air, and feature views and access to the outdoors through extra wide (barrier-free) glass doors to private patios/garden spaces protected by large roof overhangs. Hospice at The Views also features a comfortable and inviting family space / kitchenette and a modern & functional care centre. Architectural features include timber framing at the entrance, non-institutional lighting, and high-performance curtain wall glazing throughout.

The unique challenge was to create a distinct environment away from hospital traffic with its own entrance and direct egress to the outdoors from each room, yet still enable contiguous access from the hospital for the efficient and convenient provision of a full range of support services. The site was very constrained and the project was carefully planned and phased to minimize disruption to the occupants of the adjacent building.