Opened in June 2024, the new Western Memorial Regional Hospital (WMRH) in Corner Brook, Newfoundland, is a 600,000 sq ft, seven-storey acute care facility designed with patient dignity, healing, and community at its core. A defining feature is the top floor, fully dedicated to mental health—separated from other clinical spaces for tranquility, featuring panoramic views, and equipped with two landscaped roof terraces (for adults and adolescents) that serve as secure, calming outdoor spaces.

Mental health patients benefit from private, dignified transfers via dedicated elevators linked directly to the Emergency Department. Inside, patient rooms are spacious, naturally lit, and finished in calming tones, balancing comfort with safety through thoughtful observation sightlines and minimized institutional feel. A Real Time Location System (RTLS) helps monitor patient movement and supports staff safety across the hospital.

Beyond mental health, WMRH offers 164 acute care beds and a comprehensive array of services for Western Newfoundland, replacing its aging predecessor. It includes an expanded cancer care centre with radiation therapy and outpatient clinics, a renal dialysis unit with a private entrance, and a full emergency department, lab, imaging, and public amenities on the ground floor.

The second floor houses a 12-bed critical care unit, six operating rooms, maternity, pediatrics, and minor procedures. Upper floors contain inpatient pods of 15 beds, optimizing care and operational efficiency.

WMRH is also notable for cultural integration and environmental leadership. It’s the first hospital in the region with dedicated Indigenous spaces, including smudging areas and a Mi’kmaq teepee sculpture. Architecturally, the exterior nods to local birch trees, blending the facility with its natural surroundings and nearby trail network.

The hospital achieved LEED Silver certification and is powered by Canada’s largest geothermal system in a healthcare setting—eliminating fossil fuel use. Additional sustainable features include LED lighting, daylight sensors, and occupant-controlled systems.

Delivered on time and on budget in November 2023 by the Corner Brook Health Partnership, with Parkin and B+H Architects and PCL Constructors Canada Inc./Marco Group as the design-build team, WMRH sets a new benchmark in sustainable, patient-centered healthcare.

Design: Parkin Architects and B+H Architects
Photography: A Frame Photography, Julian Parkinson