A Request for Qualifications (RFQ) was released today as the first step in selecting a qualified team to design, build, finance, and maintain the new patient care tower at Penticton Regional Hospital (PRH).

“Just a few weeks ago we announced approval of the business plan for a new patient care tower at PRH,” said Health Minister Terry Lake. “And already we’ve reached the first important milestone in this exciting project in the South Okanagan-Similkameen.”

The Penticton Regional Hospital Project last go ahead announcement was July 30. The project includes two phases. Phase one is construction of the new patient care tower which will include an ambulatory care centre, surgical services centre, 84 medical/surgical inpatient beds in single patient rooms, a new medical device reprocessing unit, and space for the UBC Faculty of Medicine program. The tower will be approximately 26,700 square metres (287,500 square feet). Phase two involves the renovation of vacated areas in the current hospital, including increasing the size of the emergency department to nearly four times its current size.

“The release of the RFQ is a preliminary step towards what will be an economic surge for Penticton,” said Dan Ashton, Penticton MLA. “Not only will there be direct construction-related jobs created for the project, but the trickle-down will also positively affect sectors like retail and entertainment.”

The project is expected to create more than 1,910 direct and indirect jobs for workers over the life of the project.