Richard Koroscil, chair of the Bay Area Climate Change Council, sits on a park bench, smiling

Richard Koroscil is chair of the Bay Area Climate Change Council, and a former member of the HHS board of directors. He shares why he supports rebuilding sections of Juravinski Hospital, with sustainability as a priority,

August 19, 2025

Sustainably designed Juravinski Hospital project means a healthier community

“Health care is a very high resource user and contributes a lot to carbon inputs in our community,” says Richard Koroscil, chair of the Bay Area Climate Change Council, and former member of Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) board of directors.

Rebuilding and modernizing HHS Juravinski Hospital (JH) presents an opportunity for a sustainable build, adds Koroscil, who is among the growing number of community leaders to throw support behind HHS’ plans to rebuild and modernize old and outdated sections of the hospital.

“It’s really important to upgrade the facility so it meets the standards that we want to see today, and makes the community healthier and safer,” says Koroscil, pointing out that the oldest section of JH dates back about 100 years and therefore wasn’t built with sustainability in mind. The new HHS West Lincoln Memorial Hospital in Grimsby is also a sustainably designed project, as are several Toronto hospital projects now underway, says Koroscil.

“In Hamilton we need to do the same thing. A sustainably designed project allows us to reduce greenhouse gas emissions for a healthier community and a healthier planet.”

The JH is a collection of buildings constructed over the last century and connected by a patchwork of hallways, walkways and tunnels. With sustainability as a priority, HHS plans to tear down a large stretch of JH facing the escarpment – the M, L, H, E, sections – and the F section that adjoins E, and replace them with a state-of-the art-patient care addition. The redevelopment of JH is the single-largest health infrastructure investment in our organization’s history and will also make JH the largest acute inpatient hospital in our region.

Hospital rooms in JH’s outdated wards are small, cramped, and mostly shared with up to four people to a room. On most units, there is only one shower for about 40 patients. Nursing stations are poorly located and inefficiently designed; there’s a shortage of storage space; elevators break down and some are even too small to fit stretchers. And none of these outdated sections have air conditioning.

Washrooms in the old section’s rooms are so small, patients using walkers need to back in. And since patient rooms are too small to accommodate wheelchairs, walkers and various pieces of medical equipment, these end up lining the already narrow halls.

The new sections, when built, will feature room for about 100 patients more than today, with 70 per cent more space for care. All patient rooms will be single occupancy, with private washrooms that include a shower and more room for walkers, wheelchairs, chairs for visitors and other equipment.

Hallways will be larger and elevators will easily accommodate a stretcher. The new section will also feature modern ventilation, heating and air-conditioning systems.

The JH redevelopment project is expected to take place in phases, over several years. The longer we wait, the farther we will fall behind.

The Province of Ontario agrees that the oldest hospitals need to be replaced. But in order to get provincial investment, we need the City of Hamilton to financially commit to the project as well.

Add your name to a petition in support of a new Juravinski Hospital.

Sustainably designed Juravinski Hospital project means a healthier community

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