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The bid for the Children’s Hospital of Saskatchewan’s main building has been awarded and is expected to open its doors 10 months later than previously thought.
Graham Construction and Engineering LP has been awarded the bid to build the hospital for $214.2 million. Construction of the main building will start in September.
“We want to get out of the gate with a positive relationship with our builder. We want them to give us a realistic schedule to complete the building,” Children’s Hospital Project Manager Craig Ayers said.
“They as a firm would not want to tie up their resources in the build any longer than it is required.”
The opening was pushed back after three different delays. First the design was changed to add more beds. Then the three companies who applied to build the hospital asked for a more detailed analysis for their engineers. The Saskatoon Health Region also requested a 45-day extension to decide who would be awarded the project. After the bids came in, another 10 months was added because the construction company explained the location made it difficult to maneuver equipment in the area.
The total forecasted cost for the new Children’s Hospital of Saskatchewan is estimated to be $285.2 million.
“Now we are looking at 40 months to completion,” Ayers said adding there would be an approximately six-month commissioning, move in, and educational period.
The Children’s Hospital Foundation will need to raise another $25 million, which is expected to take 48 to 52 months.
“We are in a hot competitive market place for construction and that had upward pressures on their construction costs,” Ayers said, adding the lowest bid was 10 per cent higher than pre-tender cost estimates.
The foundation is hoping to bring in about $2 million when Garth Brooks visits Saskatoon and Regina on Wednesday.
“To achieve a $50 million goal without actual construction at the site signifies to our foundation the desire of the Saskatchewan people, their families, their children that want and support this right at this time,” Children’s Hospital President and CEO Brynn Boback-Lane said.
“Once we see the build coming out of the ground we know that others will be very excited and enthused to know that the end result will be here for generations.”
The provincial government has committed $235.5 million, $21.4 million will come from interest earned by Saskatoon Health Region investments of the hospital’s initial capital, the rest will come from the Children’s Hospital Foundation capital campaign. The total fundraising goals have gone from $50 million to $74.9 million which will be used towards construction, programs, and equipment.
The hospital is expected to be open in late 2019.
