Project Horizon, The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids)

Transforming the campus of a world-leading pediatric hospital

Since 2015, Stantec and KPMB have collaborated with The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) on Project Horizon. The multi-phase campus redevelopment plan was undertaken to support the pediatric hospital’s excellence in care and research, including the delivery of Precision Child Health (PCH): an individualized approach to care that integrates genomic profiling and environmental factors to predict, prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases.

Creating a unified campus

Recognizing the vital connection between research and patient care, the unified campus will promote collaboration and operational efficiency. The redevelopment plan establishes functional zones for high acuity, inpatient, outpatient, support, and research facilities, while fostering accessible connections between them.

With SickKids’ existing campus constrained by downtown Toronto, the plan addresses the hospital’s current and future needs by identifying opportunities for intensification and the efficient reorganization of hospital functions, while maintaining operational capacity throughout redevelopment.

Phase 1: Unlocking future development (2023)

To enable future campus-wide redevelopment, a new 22-storey Patient Support Centre centralized all administrative services and now houses more than 3,000 staff, alongside simulation training facilities, and event venues.

Phase 2: Renovations and demolitions (2025–2035)

The proposed Phase 2 will renovate the 1992-built Atrium and 1972-built Burton wings to improve accessibility and meet new standards in patient care. During this phase, the aging Black and Hill wings will be demolished to enable the construction of two future towers: the Peter Gilgan Family Critical Care Tower (CCT) and the Ambulatory Care Tower.

Phase 3: New hospital towers (2035)

The proposed Phase 3 will construct the CCT to house all critical care and invasive procedures and an expanded emergency department. The Ambulatory Care Tower will consolidate outpatient and specialty clinics.

Supporting the delivery of Precision Child Health (PCH), a proposed educational hub inside the CCT will make the hospital’s research efforts immediately visible to visitors, allowing them to observe and engage with research activity.

Across Project Horizon’s renovations and new architecture, waiting rooms will be reimagined as calming, comfortable, and family-friendly environments. Biophilic design, along with abundant fresh air and natural daylight, will improve the patient and staff experience.