To better accommodate the rising demand for paediatric emergency care in Ontario, a major expansion of the Paediatric Emergency Department at London’s Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) was essential. The hospital turned to Falkbuilt Kitchener for cutting-edge Digital Component Construction, seeking enhanced functionality and care options for young patients in need of emergency treatment.

Thoughtfully Designed Expansion for Better Paediatric Care

Spanning 2,380 square feet, the expansion at LHSC aimed to increase the department’s capacity by 50%, enabling the hospital to treat more patients, with reduced wait times, while providing a bright, healing space, tailored specifically to children. Private areas were also included for more complex procedures, ensuring that young patients could receive the care they needed in a private, comfortable space.

A Game-Changer in Healthcare

Falkbuilt’s Digital Component Construction was at the heart of the Paediatric Emergency Department project, delivering 10 primary headwall systems, integrated with power, medical gas lines, oxygen, vacuum, data connections, nurse call systems, and equipment rails, for each treatment bay. A 6” integral cove base, as well as strips between the reveals, provided unmatched infection control benefits for this project.

“The Falkbuilt team is very forward-thinking and easy to work with," says Shawn Roy from Matter Inc, the architectural firm on the project. “The space really turned out great.” Using “Falkbuilt walls as the primary headwall system for each stretcher bay not only contributed to cost efficiency but also allowed us to meet the tight project timelines by ensuring early delivery of essential medical gas infrastructure, aligning with the hospital’s aggressive scheduling needs.”

With generous wall cavities, McNally solid walls allow for quick repairs or upgrades, giving technicians easy access to all necessary peripherals for patient care, with a simple panel removal. Falkbuilt’s offsite approach ensures that the infrastructure can adapt to future advancements in healthcare technology and provides several additional advantages:

Rapid Installation: Falkbuilt’s proprietary Echo technology helped streamline decision-making and optimize project timelines, reducing the construction schedule by as much as 40%. Headwalls were pre-wired offsite, allowing electricians in the field to simply and quickly connect power.

Reliable Cost Management: With material costs rising by over 37% since 2020, Falkbuilt’s approach helped ensure financial predictability. Digital Component Construction met strict standards - including acoustics, durability, and infection control, without unexpected cost overruns.

Total Project Transparency: Through Revit’s BIM 360 integration, all stakeholders had full visibility into costs, designs, and schedules. This transparency eliminated surprises, allowing the team to stay aligned throughout the project. Echo seamlessly connected the architect's Revit file to the technical fabrication 3D model in Inventor, speeding up the schedule and saving hundreds of hours in the decision-making process.

Improving Operational Efficiency + Reducing Downtime

According to a 2024 ASHE survey, between 2% and 5% of hospital rooms are “down” and nonfunctional each day, which can significantly impact a hospital’s capacity to care for patients. A critical aspect of the LHSC expansion was the need for improved operational efficiency. Falkbuilt’s approach drastically reduces downtime and operational costs, minimizing the time it takes to upgrade hospital facilities or install new medical technology, not only resulting in financial savings but also maximizing a hospital’s ability to treat more patients.

Enhancing Patient Outcomes + Reducing Wait Times

Since the expanded Paediatric Emergency Department was completed in September 2024, there has been a noticeable impact. By increasing capacity, the department has been able to accommodate more than 2,600 additional young patients, reducing wait times and ensuring that children receive high-quality care.

Setting a New Standard in Healthcare Construction

At Falkbuilt, we’re not just building hospital rooms; we’re redesigning the landscape of healthcare construction. By harnessing the power of Digital Component Construction and Echo technology, we’re building spaces that are not only functional and efficient but also flexible enough to meet the evolving needs of the healthcare industry.

Photos: Wilson Costa