Vancouver emergency rooms not expected to survive major quake

Aging hospital buildings found to be at high-risk of collapse or being rendered useless by a strong tremor


Vancouver’s two largest emergency rooms are at risk of collapse in an earthquake, along with many other aging healthcare facilities, according to an article on the Vancouver Sun website.

Seismic risk assessments show buildings — including the Vancouver General Hospital’s 12-story Centennial pavilion, the building that houses the VGH emergency department and the almost 100-year-old St. Paul’s Hospital in downtown Vancouver — are at high risk to collapse in an earthquake, the article said.

Buildings at the UBC Hospital, Richmond General Hospital, Lions Gate Hospital, Burnaby General Hospital, Langley Memorial Hospital, the B.C. Children’s Hospital and the B.C. Women’s Hospital are also at risk.

The government has spent $2.2 billion to seismically upgrade or replace 214 schools since 2001, but it has no seismic upgrade program for hospitals.

Read the article.

Watch the video.

 

 



June 25, 2015


Topic Area: Safety


Recent Posts

Preparing Healthcare Facilities for Wildfire Air Quality Events

Wildfire smoke puts pressure on mechanical systems already working hard to maintain controlled indoor environments.


UW Health Set to Open Expansion at East Madison Hospital

The $140 million project adds 120,000 square feet to the hospital, expanding its footprint to roughly 620,000 square feet.


Central Ohio Primary Care Physicians Falls Victim to Cyberattack

While the full extent of the incident is still under review, our initial investigation discovered that there are approximately 1.4 million individuals impacted.


The Role of Biophilic Design in Healthcare Facilities

Nature-inspired design can support staff well-being and create more welcoming, human-centered healthcare environments.


TriStar Centennial Medical Center Invests $90M in Women, Children's Hospital Expansions

The multi-year project will bring significant improvements to both hospitals.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.