The Quebec government is giving $37 million to McGill University to continue its plans to transform the old Royal Victoria Hospital into what it calls “a global hub for learning, research and innovation.”
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The announcement was made at McGill on Friday, making the plans for the acquisition of some of the hospital land and property official.
Cameron Charlebois, campus planning and development executive director, said the 120-year-old hospital will be renovated and transformed all while respecting the architectural heritage of the site.
“There is the Allan Memorial, which everyone knows as Ravenscrag. Then there’s three other buildings, a maternity ward which is a women’s pavillion, Ross and Hersey. So, those four buildings are sacrosanct,” he said.
“There are other pieces in there that have to be transformed in one way or another whether it’s removed or replaced or transformed to receive university functions and that’s exactly what we will be designing over the next two years.”
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He added they should start construction by 2021 and that the new facilities would house McGill’s Sustainability Systems Initiative and the new Max Bell School of Public Policy.
Robert Beaudry, a city councillor and executive committee member for economy, development and government relations, said the city is working closely with the government and McGill University on the next steps.
“We are really happy to be a part of this project,” Beaudry said.
The entire job will cost about $700 million, according to Charlebois.
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