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Despite all the drama Bridgepoint Health (and the Don Jail) went through between Doors Open and now, they broke ground right on schedule just this past Monday and put the wheels in motion to build the new Bridgepoint Hospital with the adjacent old Don Jail being repurposed as a research and administration facility.
Talk of renovating the old Don Jail sparked heated comments from architectural enthusiasts who wanted the nineteenth-century edifice kept under glass and used as a museum instead. At the same time, a less vocal yet passionate group of people have been protesting the planned demolition of the '60s-era "half-round" (the current Bridgepoint Hospital). Opposition started as far back as 2005, but despite efforts from many, the structure is still scheduled to come down in 2013 to make way for a revitalized medical campus, designed by Diamond and Schmitt Architects. In his press release, Gregory Colucci of Diamond and Schmitt said that “we believe in the restorative power of good design. It is as essential to our well-being as are food and rest. For Bridgepoint Health we have designed a hospital that will rehabilitate bodies, restore courage, and lift spirits.”
While demolition is not for a few years, Torontoist dropped by nice and early to capture the funky details of the building that was in its day called the "Taj Mahal of bed-care centres," according to Dave LeBlanc of the Globe and Mail.
All photos by Nick Kozak/Torontoist unless otherwise specified.
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Yeah, I'm going to have to admit being one of the people who's going to miss the 60's era half round glass part.
Always thought it was a lovely building to look at as I walked along Broadview.
I'm with you on that one... too bad it couldn't be incorporated into the newer structure somehow.
It's a massive failure of the imagination - we can turn a jail into offices, but we can't turn a hospital into a hospital.
One of the few beautiful, well situated, and beloved high modern buildings in the city is being destroyed while we scramble to save old brick warehouses and turn them into art galleries. I love old brick, but where's the logic and consistency?
Does anyone know if the new building will have only private rooms? It is a trend backed up by research that shows the huge health benefit to getting rid of semi-private and dorm (?) rooms.
According to Bridgepoint's web site, there will be single and double occupancy rooms. You can get a virtual tour here: http://bridgepoint.plenaryprojects.com/.
Thanks Kaori, good info .....
I'm also going to miss this building, although the rendering doesn't look that bad either. I don't get why they would have to destroy the whole building, like Cobalt said why couldn't they incorporate part of the hospital? I'm guessing the architectural firm wouldn't be too keen. In a few years were really going to resent all these glass cases we're putting up everywhere. Would love to see "Bridgepoint" stay "Bridgepoint."
Man, that rendering really makes it look like they're saying, "Rectangles are best. Take that, semi-circular building!" Doesn't work for me in that location; the current building is a better fit.
The current building really can't continue to be used as a hospital, especially as a chronic care facility, it simply lacks the basic infrastructure to support modern quality of life standards (simple stuff like not enough plumbing to support more toilets) and that can't be fixed in a renovation but it's a real failure in thinking that the hospital has to be rebuilt on the same plot.
I'm still baffled that the province couldn't have found them another lot to build a new building on. It's not like the ORC doesn't own literally acres of currently vacant brownfield land within a 5 minute drive of the current location, and it would have solved the problem of what to do with the current residents while the construction happens.
The half round could then be repurposed for other uses, there are still unmet needs for office and lab spaces for research that could be met be renovating the existing building.
Mr. Eastside, I think you're on to something here. Too bad they don't have the brainpower upstairs to have come up with an idea as brilliant as yours. We're all finding out about this a little late aren't we.