New tower opens at Royal Columbian Hospital

NEW WESTMINSTER, BC – The new Jim Pattison Acute Care Tower at Royal Columbian Hospital opened for patients on May 31, 2026, bringing quicker access to specialized, life-saving treatment to people in the Lower Mainland and throughout the province.

“This new tower at Royal Columbian Hospital will give people throughout B.C. faster access to specialized, life-saving care, with a new emergency department, expanded inpatient units, modern operating rooms and enhanced cardiac, maternity and newborn services,” said Bowinn Ma (pictured), Minister of Infrastructure. “It builds on Phase 1 of the hospital redevelopment, which opened in early 2020, and added a new mental- health centre, inpatient beds, seniors care, and advanced medical technology. Investments in modern health facilities are creating more space for care and helping people get treatment when they need it most.”

Royal Columbian Hospital will be the only hospital in B.C. with expanded trauma, cardiac care, neurosurgery, high-risk obstetrics, neonatal intensive care and acute mental healthcare on one site.

The new 388-bed, 10-storey tower will feature:

• a new, larger emergency department with 75 treatment spaces and a satellite medical imaging unit that will reduce travel times for procedures
• a 47-bed intensive care unit, featuring a dedicated smudging room to provide a culturally safe space for Indigenous families
• a new 17-bed cardiac intensive care unit
• medical inpatient beds spanning five floors
• 48-bed obstetrics unit, co-located with a neonatal intensive care unit, which will include two obstetrical operating rooms
• 17 new operating rooms and interventional radiology and cardiac suites that will connect to the existing Health Care Centre to create an interventional “super floor”
• modern medical device reprocessing department
• a 356-stall underground parkade, and a 117-stall surface parking lot

The tower will open in two stages.

On May 31, the hospital launched the new emergency department, medical-surgical inpatient units, intensive care unit, cardiac intensive care unit, satellite medical imaging, main entrance and parking facilities.

This fall, the obstetrics unit, pediatrics unit, neonatal intensive care unit, operating rooms, interventional radiology and cardiology suites, and a cardiac surgery intensive care unit will open.

Phase 1 of the Royal Columbian Hospital redevelopment opened in 2020. It included a new mental-health and substance-use wellness centre (with inpatient and outpatient services, including a specialized unit for senior’s care), energy centre and parkade. This phase expanded access to mental-health and substance-use care and improved hospital services and facilities.

“As the oldest hospital in BC, Royal Columbian Hospital has long played a vital role in caring for the communities in New Westminster, the region, and province,” said Jennifer Whiteside, MLA for New Westminster.

She added, “I am delighted that the dedicated healthcare teams at Royal Columbian Hospital will continue to provide exceptional quality patient care at the new Jim Pattison Acute Care Tower. This state-of-the-art hospital is the result of the hard work of thousands of workers whose efforts will bring greater access to healthcare and improve the lives of patients and families for generations to come.”

Indigenous partners helped shape the design of the new tower, ensuring it reflects the needs and values of the people it serves. Natural materials, calming colours and access to daylight were chosen to support healing and reduce stress during hospital stays.

“People in New Westminster and throughout the province will benefit from the increased capacity, advanced technology, and thoughtfully designed spaces in the new acute care tower,” said Josie Osborne, minister of health. “Patients and families were involved throughout the design process and will benefit from enhanced health-care services in spaces that support patient safety, privacy and comfort.”

Investing in the future of healthcare

The new tower is the second phase of the Royal Columbian Hospital redevelopment project. Phase 1 included the opening of the mental-health and substance-use wellness centre and energy centre. Phase 2 and 3 of the redevelopment are estimated to be nearly $2 billion with contributions from the Province, Fraser Health and the Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation. The tower is named after well-known business leader and philanthropist Jim Pattison, who donated $30 million to the project.

Phase 3 will include upgrades to the existing health-care centre and Columbia Tower to support the beds and services added in Phase 2. Those renovations are expected to be complete in 2029. Since 2017, the Province has provided $14 billion to upgrade and build 30 new hospitals, and health-care facilities, as well as 37 long-term care facilities and four cancer centres to support people in British Columbia. The Jim Pattison Acute Care Tower is part of the Province’s broader commitment to strengthen the health-care system and ensure people in the Lower Mainland and beyond have access to the care they need.

• Phase 2 includes the new acute care tower, featuring more beds, private rooms, new operating rooms, advanced technology and equipment, a 356-stall underground parkade, a 117-stall surface parking lot, new main entrance and rooftop helipad.
• Phase 2 features many technology enhancements, such as modern medical imaging equipment, communications tools that allow health-care teams to communicate hands-free in real time, and a patient tracking system that allows staff and family members to track a patient’s surgical journey.
• The new tower features amenities for health-care teams such as multiple staff lounges, staff change rooms and lockers on each floor, bike storage, outdoor spaces and a lactation lounge for parents needing to pump milk during the workday.
• The building has been designed to be Gold certified under the LEED program, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. To increase energy efficiency, the project features advanced heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. The building is designed with a focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and incorporates sustainable and locally sourced materials as much as possible.
• Phase 3 will upgrade areas in the existing health-care centre and Columbia Tower to support the additional beds and operating rooms in the tower. Phase 3 design, procurement and construction of early works are underway. Phase 3 construction is expected to begin in early 2027.

Design inspiration from the Fraser River

• The design concept for the tower was inspired by its location near the Fraser River.
• At street level, the inside and outside of the building evoke a riverbank.
• The redevelopment project has been working alongside Indigenous partners to create a welcoming and culturally safe space for Indigenous individuals, families and communities.
• Green spaces and gardens with places to sit in the shade or take a walk surround the new building. There are also three spacious patios.
• Pick-up and drop-off stalls will be available at the new main entrance.
• Volunteers will be on site at Royal Columbian Hospital’s entrances to help people find their way.