A long time coming
Willow Square Continuing Care Centre opens to residents this year
Construction for the $102-million Willow Square Continuing Care Centre, which came in under budget, started in April 2018 and faced a number of delays, including the 2020 April flood and the COVID-19 pandemic. Photos courtesy of Alberta Health Services.
Construction on a long-awaited
project, which came in under budget,
says David Ponich, AHS executive
continuing care centre was finally
started in April 2018 and faced a
director, Capital Management, North
completed earlier this year.
number of delays, including the
Zone. “The basement and parkade
2020 April flood and the COVID-19
level, which is the lowest level of the
Centre was handed over to Alberta
pandemic.
building, was flooded with about one-
Health Services (AHS) in January
“The flooding in downtown Fort
The Willow Square Continuing Care
2021, where they immediately began work on the commissioning phase of the project. Construction for the $102-million
and-a-half metres of water.”
McMurray last spring did impact the
The structure was designed to sustain
Willow Square construction site as
major flooding events, so the water
the site laydown [storage] and outdoor
did not reach the residential levels
parking areas had flood damage,”
on the main floor and above. A flood damage assessment was carried out and remediation efforts started as quickly as possible. Now that commissioning for the building has started, AHS is ensuring that their healthcare teams are all fully prepared to provide safe and quality care to patients prior to opening the facility. This work includes a final cleaning of the entire building, the installation of furniture and equipment, and also training staff
Willow Square will aim to deliver various levels of supportive living, long-term care, and palliative care and services.
to use the new medical equipment and systems, as well as to ensure that everything is working properly.
22 Fort McMurray Construction Association
