PODCASTS > Arcat Detailed Podcast Episode
124: Fully Electric & Net-Zero Carbon | Cowichan District Hospital
1h 2m 38s |
In this episode, Cherise is joined by Shane Czypyha, Principal at Parkin Architects with offices in Toronto, Ottowa, and Vancouver BC, Canada, and Iain MacFadyen from RGS Consultants in Port Coquitlam, BC, Canada. They discuss the Cowichan District Hospital Replacement Project (CDHRP) in North Cowichan, BC.
Located in North Cowichan, BC, the new Cowichan District Hospital is more than a healthcare facility—it’s a groundbreaking vision for the future of patient care. Designed with sustainability, cultural inclusivity, and patient-centered healing at its core, this seven-story, 204-bed hospital is BC’s first fully-electric hospital and CAGBC Zero Carbon Building first certified healthcare project.
Located in North Cowichan, BC, the new Cowichan District Hospital is more than a healthcare facility—it’s a groundbreaking vision for the future of patient care. Designed with sustainability, cultural inclusivity, and patient-centered healing at its core, this seven-story, 204-bed hospital is BC’s first fully-electric hospital and CAGBC Zero Carbon Building first certified healthcare project.
Click here for the extended length interview on YouTube
Shane is a hands-on project manager and architect with extensive healthcare experience, specializing in innovative, user-focused solutions. Known for his collaborative, team-first approach, he leads high-performance teams to deliver community-focused facilities. As project architect, Shane has worked closely with clients, contractors, consultants, First Nations representatives, and design and BIM compliance teams.
With two decades of experience, Iain is a sustainability leader specializing in firm-wide sustainability strategy development and project-level sustainability integration. He collaborates with teams to develop tailored sustainability frameworks, driving firm-wide impact while ensuring cost-effective, high-performance design solutions at the project scale. Iain serves on the CaGBC’s Net Zero Carbon Steering Committee and Embodied Carbon TAG and previously completed two terms as the City of Surrey ADP Sustainability Advisor.
He has led and supported high-performance building projects across commercial, mixed-use, residential, civic, institutional, and healthcare sectors, delivering innovative, cost-effective sustainability strategies that enhance building performance and resilience.
The Cowichan District Hospital Replacement Project (CDHRP) in North Cowichan, BC, is a state-of-the-art, patient-centered facility designed with significant Indigenous cultural integration and sustainability at its core.
Scheduled for completion in 2027, the seven-story, 204-bed hospital will feature mass timber construction, a two-story community hall, and be BC’s first fully-electric and Canada’s first Net-Zero Carbon hospital.
The design, created with ongoing, in-depth collaborations with Indigenous Nations, is meant to cultivate a sense of belonging for Indigenous patients seeking healthcare.
It begins with emergency department redesigns to the security area, renamed Ts’uwtun (Sow-tun), which means 'greeter' in Hul'q'umi'num (hull-ka-meh-num).
The project includes 185 patient rooms equipped for traditional healing customs that involve burning. There will be culturally inclusive indoor and outdoor spaces, a unique art program, Indigenous Health programming, and more.
The sustainability initiatives incorporated establish a new high bar for sustainable hospitals in Canada. Here are some of the details:
In addition to the sustainability side
Photo Credit:
- Cicada Designs Inc.
- 95degrees Inc.
Shane Czypyha, Principal at Parkin Architects
Shane is a hands-on project manager and architect with extensive healthcare experience, specializing in innovative, user-focused solutions. Known for his collaborative, team-first approach, he leads high-performance teams to deliver community-focused facilities. As project architect, Shane has worked closely with clients, contractors, consultants, First Nations representatives, and design and BIM compliance teams.
Iain MacFadyen, RGS Consultants
With two decades of experience, Iain is a sustainability leader specializing in firm-wide sustainability strategy development and project-level sustainability integration. He collaborates with teams to develop tailored sustainability frameworks, driving firm-wide impact while ensuring cost-effective, high-performance design solutions at the project scale. Iain serves on the CaGBC’s Net Zero Carbon Steering Committee and Embodied Carbon TAG and previously completed two terms as the City of Surrey ADP Sustainability Advisor.
He has led and supported high-performance building projects across commercial, mixed-use, residential, civic, institutional, and healthcare sectors, delivering innovative, cost-effective sustainability strategies that enhance building performance and resilience.
Project Name and Location: The Cowichan District Hospital Replacement Project (CDHRP) in North Cowichan, BC, Canada.
The Cowichan District Hospital Replacement Project (CDHRP) in North Cowichan, BC, is a state-of-the-art, patient-centered facility designed with significant Indigenous cultural integration and sustainability at its core.
Scheduled for completion in 2027, the seven-story, 204-bed hospital will feature mass timber construction, a two-story community hall, and be BC’s first fully-electric and Canada’s first Net-Zero Carbon hospital.
The design, created with ongoing, in-depth collaborations with Indigenous Nations, is meant to cultivate a sense of belonging for Indigenous patients seeking healthcare.
It begins with emergency department redesigns to the security area, renamed Ts’uwtun (Sow-tun), which means 'greeter' in Hul'q'umi'num (hull-ka-meh-num).
The project includes 185 patient rooms equipped for traditional healing customs that involve burning. There will be culturally inclusive indoor and outdoor spaces, a unique art program, Indigenous Health programming, and more.
The sustainability initiatives incorporated establish a new high bar for sustainable hospitals in Canada. Here are some of the details:
- Fully-electric
- The first hospital to be CaGBC net zero carbon building design standard certified
- 75% reduction in GHG emissions
- Design systems for 2050 and 2080 climate data
- Salmon Safe certification
In addition to the sustainability side
- A Collaborative Alliance Contract Model (among the first of its kind in North American) was used and involves Owner, Architect and Builder in a shared risk, no claim/blame contractual agreement
- There is significant Indigenous engagement, inclusion and representation in the design and project delivery.
- We used a clinical design approach based on Evidence Based Design principles with patient and staff outcomes as a key driver
- There is ambitious focus on local and indigenous art in the project: a gallery in a hospital setting that aims to utilize art in the healing journey.
Project Team List:
- Architect: Parkin Architects and ZGF Architects
- Sustainability Consultant: ZGF Architects
- Interior designer: Parkin Architects
- General contractor: EllisDon
- Engineers: H.H. Angus; Bush, Bohlman & Partners; Mulvey & Banani
- Builder: EllisDon
- Owner: Island Health Authority
