Barrie Construction News staff writer
Construction is underway on a new elevated helipad at Stevenson Memorial Hospital (SMH) in Alliston, marking a key milestone in the hospital’s multi-year redevelopment project. The helipad is expected to be operational by early 2026.
The project is part of SMH’s Early Works construction phase, which began earlier this year to prepare the site for the hospital’s major expansion. The helipad will be one of the first permanent structures built as part of the redevelopment.
“This is one of the most exciting elements of our early works construction and a critical one at that,” said Wayne Willcott, Senior Director, Corporate Infrastructure and Redevelopment at SMH. “The new helipad construction is underway now to ensure that we have seamless access to air ambulance services during the construction of our new hospital facility, prioritizing emergency patient care services. It will remain as a permanent structure at the hospital for many years to come.”
The 71-foot-wide helipad will feature an innovative design elevated three feet above ground level — one of the few of its kind in Ontario. Similar designs are more commonly found in western Canada. Once complete, the structure will undergo a certification process by Transport Canada to ensure it meets all safety standards before being used for patient transport.
Located on the southeast side of the hospital property, the new helipad will improve flight safety during windy conditions and free up space for future parking expansion. The access pathway between the helipad and hospital will be heated in cold weather to ensure safety and accessibility during winter months.
The helipad is an early step in SMH’s broader redevelopment plan, a partnership with Infrastructure Ontario and the Ministry of Health. The project will deliver a new 147,100-square-foot facility that more than doubles the size of the hospital, increasing inpatient capacity by 20 per cent and featuring all single-occupancy rooms. The redevelopment will also triple the size of the Emergency Department, add a new MRI suite, expand surgical capacity with modern operating rooms, and include a redesigned obstetrics department.
Three major contractors — EllisDon Corporation, Ledcor Construction Limited, and Pomerleau Inc. — were prequalified earlier this year to bid on the hospital’s Phase 1 redevelopment. A Request for Proposals (RFP) closed in September 2025, and the successful contractor is expected to be announced in early 2026, following evaluation by Infrastructure Ontario.
Construction of the new hospital facility is anticipated to begin later in 2026.