[Halifax] QE II Health Sciences Centre | ? | 14 fl | U/C

[Keith P.]

Based upon the existing parkade at the QE which has half as many floors yet can take seemingly forever to travel from top to bottom due to the many out-of-town visitors using it who have never used such a facility before and are flummoxed by how to get around inside it, one can only hope the new facility has ample signage and wayfinding measures to prevent users from needing to pack a lunch when attempting to find a spot or trying to get out.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

Based upon the existing parkade at the QE which has half as many floors yet can take seemingly forever to travel from top to bottom due to the many out-of-town visitors using it who have never used such a facility before and are flummoxed by how to get around inside it, one can only hope the new facility has ample signage and wayfinding measures to prevent users from needing to pack a lunch when attempting to find a spot or trying to get out.

It's a parkade - they are usually easy to understand (Scotia Square notwithstanding) as each floor will be the same as the last, and the elevator will be in the same location each time. It may be challenging for somebody who has never used a parkade before, but they should be able to figure it out.

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

It's a parkade - they are usually easy to understand (Scotia Square notwithstanding) as each floor will be the same as the last, and the elevator will be in the same location each time. It may be challenging for somebody who has never used a parkade before, but they should be able to figure it out.

In my experience there, "should" always comes in second to "can't".

[IanWatson]

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

It's a parkade - they are usually easy to understand (Scotia Square notwithstanding) as each floor will be the same as the last, and the elevator will be in the same location each time. It may be challenging for somebody who has never used a parkade before, but they should be able to figure it out.

Mark: “They are usually easy to understand”

Nova Centre Parking Garage: “Hold my beer.”

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by IanWatson

Mark: “They are usually easy to understand”

Nova Centre Parking Garage: “Hold my beer.”

Maybe there is better signage now, but I wasn't even able to find the entrance to the Nova Center parkade when I wanted to use it shortly after the building opened. I have avoided the place ever since not just because of that but mostly because DT is so unfriendly to drivers.

[Summerville]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

Maybe there is better signage now, but I wasn't even able to find the entrance to the Nova Center parkade when I wanted to use it shortly after the building opened. I have avoided the place ever since not just because of that but mostly because DT is so unfriendly to drivers.

I agree that the Nova Centre parking is confusing. I wonder if there is anything to be said about the difference between above ground parking (natural light) and underground parking?

[eastcoastal]

Originally Posted by Summerville

I agree that the Nova Centre parking is confusing. I wonder if there is anything to be said about the difference between above ground parking (natural light) and underground parking?

I'm pretty sure it's expensive to rationalize the structural grid appropriate for a building for one that's appropriate for parking... an expense that the developer probably doesn't want to incur, so the clarity of parking levels is reduced in favour of the leasable floor areas above and wayfinding suffers. I bet it doesn't HAVE to be confusing, but that it's more expensive to make it not confusing... less to do with natural light. Scotia Square has natural light and some of it is still confusing (not sure how the two compare, never having parked at Nova Centre).

[Dartguard]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

Maybe there is better signage now, but I wasn't even able to find the entrance to the Nova Center parkade when I wanted to use it shortly after the building opened. I have avoided the place ever since not just because of that but mostly because DT is so unfriendly to drivers.

I have been a passenger while experiencing the NOVA garage and I have to say that once you know what lane to use its easy peezy. My friend finds the garage safe, warm and very convenient for older relatives to access downtown services like the Neptune theatre and the restaurants on Argyle. The feel of the complex has changed that small town feel of DT Halifax and I think that's for the good.

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by Dartguard

I have been a passenger while experiencing the NOVA garage and I have to say that once you know what lane to use its easy peezy. My friend finds the garage safe, warm and very convenient for older relatives to access downtown services like the Neptune theatre and the restaurants on Argyle. The feel of the complex has changed that small town feel of DT Halifax and I think that's for the good.

I still don't know where the entrance is, which is remarkable. I did a Google search for that and got zero credible responses. The CC site itself doesn't mention it. Some others said it was near Maxwell's Plum, while still others said it was up on Market. Street View images have not been updated since 2019 and so are not of much help. Pure Halifax.

[midasmull]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

I still don't know where the entrance is, which is remarkable. I did a Google search for that and got zero credible responses. The CC site itself doesn't mention it. Some others said it was near Maxwell's Plum, while still others said it was up on Market. Street View images have not been updated since 2019 and so are not of much help. Pure Halifax.

It's across the street from the Wooden Monkey (between the BMO branch and Chop/Sutton Place Hotel lobby). The exit is across the street from Maxwell's. Market St is where the loading bays are.

[Saul Goode]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

Street View images have not been updated since 2019 and so are not of much help. Pure Halifax.

While the images indeed haven't been updated in three years (hardly Halifax's fault), they do in fact show visible, albeit small, parking signs.

On the Prince Street side, the entrance is just to the right of the red "Rogers Square" sign. A parking sign, with arrow, is clearly visible.

On the Sackville Street side, the exit is also marked, though only by implication: "Parking - Prince Street access only".

Maybe the signage has been updated since then to make it more obvious - I haven't noticed when driving by, since I've never wanted to park there.

Not much practical help, I know, and I take your point. But the signs are there in the images.

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by Saul Goode

While the images indeed haven't been updated in three years (hardly Halifax's fault), they do in fact show visible, albeit small, parking signs.

On the Prince Street side, the entrance is just to the right of the red "Rogers Square" sign. A parking sign, with arrow, is clearly visible.

On the Sackville Street side, the exit is also marked, though only by implication: "Parking - Prince Street access only".

Maybe the signage has been updated since then to make it more obvious - I haven't noticed when driving by, since I've never wanted to park there.

Not much practical help, I know, and I take your point. But the signs are there in the images.

I "drove" via Street View up Prince St several times and saw no signs. However based upon your post I drove via that mode along Grafton southbound and there is an image there that appears when you approach the facility that shows a small "P" sign. I saw nothing going down Sackville St on the opposite side but the photo there was from while it was still under construction.

Imagine my confusion being that the access/exit is in what was touted as a pedestrian square on a closed-off street. That seems both unsafe and non-intuitive. "Hey, honey, let's go to this fun event on the convention center parking ramps!"

I obviously wasn't blaming Halifax for the Street View images. But the lack of signage and information even on the CC website itself is pure Halifax at its best. The old "Well, everybody knows where that is" attitude doesn't work so well when it is a new facility and especially when dealing with visitors from out of town.

[q12]

A new plan released today that upgrades the New Generation QEII Multi-billion dollar project. It now reflects the needs of our growing population, both across the province and within Halifax Regional Municipality, which could grow by 29% by 2043.

Site preparation work – such as moving utilities like power and sewers – will begin in Summer 2023

Source:
https://buildns.ca/healthcare/more-faster-the-action-for-health-build/

N.S. government unveils significant expansion of hospital redevelopment project

New emergency departments to be built at Halifax Infirmary, Dartmouth General Hospital

Michael Gorman · CBC News · Posted: Dec 15, 2022 10:15 AM AT |


Work at the Halifax Infirmary has so far included a new pedway linking the hospital and a new parking garage and renovations to the entrances on Summer Street and Robie Street. (Michael Gorman/CBC)

The Nova Scotia government is concluding an agreement with Plenary PCL Health to build a new patient tower with four additional operating rooms and a new emergency department at the site of the Halifax Infirmary.

The announcement represents a change from the original redevelopment plans, which did not include a new emergency department. A new cancer centre will also go at the Infirmary site.

Premier Tim Houston announced the government would also build a new emergency department at the Dartmouth General Hospital, add in-patient services to the Cobequid Community Health Centre and build two additional standalone "transition-to-community" centres in Halifax Regional Municipality.

All of those are new additions to the QEII New Generation project.

"The work will proceed without delay and shovels will be in the ground much sooner than what would have been possible under the previous plan," Houston said in a news release.

The "considerable" work on the design for the patient tower is already complete, said Houston.

The changes reflect updated population trends for the province that well outstrip what was used to size the original redevelopment project. The plan will add 423 more beds than the original design.

Officials said it is too soon to put a total budget on all the work.

The government also plans to build a new mental health and addictions campus, new heart health centre of excellence and new rehabilitation and arthritic centre.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scot...ax-infirmary-dartmouth-general-1.6654983

[MonctonRad]

Good news. The added capacity is very necessary, especially given growth projections.

I also appreciate that the provincial government now realizes that not all inpatient services should be on the peninsula (or Dartmouth General Hospital). Halifax has grown to the point that a distributed delivery model is necessary and suburban hospitals are inevitable. The peninsula is not convenient to a great many Haligonians.

When are they going to tear down the VG? I did the majority of my internship and residency in that hospital, but it seemed ancient even then (and I'm 65 now).

[Colin May]

Great news. Government finally realised that future population and business growth will be primarily off the peninsula.
On a side note : HRM should get out of the so called "Industrial Park' business and leave it to the province. Not much 'industrial' in the parks. Mostly offices, retail and entertainment. Not a 'must do' aspect of municipal government. HRM should stay in its lane.

[Haliguy]

Originally Posted by Colin May

Great news. Government finally realised that future population and business growth will be primarily off the peninsula.
On a side note : HRM should get out of the so called "Industrial Park' business and leave it to the province. Not much 'industrial' in the parks. Mostly offices, retail and entertainment. Not a 'must do' aspect of municipal government. HRM should stay in its lane.

And the largest component of the the project is on the peninsula(downtown) where is should be! So good all around.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by Haliguy

And the largest component of the the project is on the peninsula(downtown) where is should be! So good all around.

The major tertiary, research and teaching hospital would always have to be in the downtown area, close to Dalhousie and the medical school.

There is a place however for smaller community type hospitals in suburban areas of HRM too.

[Haliguy]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

The major tertiary, research and teaching hospital would always have to be in the downtown area, close to Dalhousie and the medical school.

There is a place however for smaller community type hospitals in suburban areas of HRM too.

Agreed

[Dartguard]

I watched the announcement this morning and the point that really jumped out at me is the first question Karen Oldfield asked when she took over her position. She asked where the ten year Capital plan was. There NEVER WAS ONE. She then asked the staff what THEIR priorities were. The reply apparently was to increase Emergency services then the post acute patient care ( there is very little now). Not moving post acute care patients out of Emerg centers and to home, long term care or rehab is the main reason Paramedics are waiting with patients for hours in Emerg departments.

I also liked the Premiers pushback when reporters demanded a costed solution. N.S. is in this crunch because of sticker shock every time someone comes up with a solution. In these inflationary times no one can nail these costs down. Another interesting point made about this pivot is the Contractors were very concerned that they could not cost the Labour needed to build the previous plan as 1000 of the 1500 expected workforce were to come from outside N.S.

Damn the Torpedoes , full speed ahead and the tall Poppy Cowboys should sit down and let this happen.

There was NO ten year Capital Plan. Mindblowing.

Its funny how the Province needed a former Container moving executive to ask those rudimentary questions.

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by Colin May

On a side note : HRM should get out of the so called "Industrial Park' business and leave it to the province. Not much 'industrial' in the parks. Mostly offices, retail and entertainment. Not a 'must do' aspect of municipal government. HRM should stay in its lane.

What?!? You expect HRM to suddenly start doing that now? How will they be able to ban AirBnBs and electric scooters? Think of the speed bumps!!!