$259.2 million Henderson General Hospital Project Reaches Financial Close

Using the Alternative Financing and Procurement model, Infrastructure Ontario, together with Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation and EllisDon Corporation and its partners financially closed on the redevelopment of Henderson General Hospital in Hamilton, Ontario, on December 14, 2007.

The fixed construction contract commits EllisDon to build and finance the hospital expansion and redevelopment project at Henderson General Hospital for $198.1 million.
The project consists of approximately 400,000 square feet of new construction and more than 25,000 square feet of renovation. The expansion will result in enhanced general hospital services, including a full-range of acute inpatient and ambulatory services supporting cancer care and patients from the Juravinski Cancer Centre. It will include additional oncology and critical care beds and more capacity in emergency services, surgery, diagnostic services, outpatient clinics and support areas.

The estimated total cost of the redevelopment project approved by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care is $259.2 million. This includes the hospital's early works demolition to accommodate the redevelopment, the fixed construction contract with EllisDon as well as other estimated costs related to the project such as equipment, permits, transaction and project management costs, architectural and engineering fees and furniture.

The building team, led by EllisDon, also includes financing arranged by Pacific & Western Bank of Canada with the assistance of the Gwich'in Tribal Council, an Aboriginal organization that represents the Gwich'in in the Mackenzie-Delta of the Northwest Territories.

Infrastructure Ontario, represented by in-house counsel Tariq Taherbhai, and Hamilton Health Sciences, represented by Katherine Mellin, were supported by David Doubilet and Tom Barlow of Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP and Carlo Greco of Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP. Victor Buza of Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP acted as corporate counsel to Hamilton Health Sciences.

Chris Bennett, Tim Murphy, Peter Willis, Catherine Doyle and Amanda Klein of McMillan Binch Mendelsohn LLP acted as transaction counsel to EllisDon, with Peter Schwartz of Harrison Pensa LLP acting as corporate counsel. Paul Harricks, Alan James and Rob Blackstein of Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP represented Fengate Capital Management, one of EllisDon's partners in the project.

Pacific & Western Bank of Canada was represented by Michael Lake, Don Bryant, David Arntfield and Becky Griffiths of McKenzie Lake Lawyers LLP, while the Gwich'in Tribal Council was represented by Geoff Wiest, Lisa Peters and Len Glass of Lawson Lundell LLP.