Premier John Horgan and Health Minister Adrian Dix have announced more details about the $860-million expansion of Richmond Hospital.
The four-phase project will add 113 new beds to the hospital, bringing the total to 353.
A new nine-floor patient care tower, the Yurkovich Family Pavilion, will include an emergency department with 82 spaces, up from the current 60, and 11 operating rooms, up from eight.
The government promises the new tower will be earthquake-safe, constructed above the flood plain, and be 100-per-cent carbon neutral.
As well, the Milan Ilich Pavilion will be redeveloped and be home to the cancer care clinic, outpatient clinics and the UBC School of Medicine.
Construction is scheduled to be done in 2029.
The NDP government announced a concept plan for the hospital revitalization in 2018.
The detailed business planning and budgeting were expected to wrap in September but were delayed due to the provincial election.
– with files from Richard Zussman