MTE's Involvement
Since 2008, MTE completed numerous assignments at Cambridge Memorial Hospital, including Designated Substance Surveys, confined space abatement management, mould investigations and remediation, and the development of internal Construction-Related Infection Control (CRIC) policies and procedures.
For the Capital Redevelopment Project, MTE provided construction-related infection prevention and control services. This included training general contractors and subcontractors, supporting implementation of CSA Standard Z317.13, assisting with risk group determination and work classification, identifying potential cross-contamination pathways, and developing mitigation strategies. Our teams also conducted routine site monitoring, evaluated the effectiveness of infection control measures, verified enclosure integrity and negative pressure requirements, communicated deficiencies, and coordinated closely with contractors, consultants, and hospital staff throughout the project.
MTE’s structural engineering team provided consulting services across all project phases since 2000, including work delivered under Infrastructure Ontario’s Build Finance model. The addition featured a two-storey podium housing operating rooms and laboratories, topped by a seven-storey acute care tower. The structure was primarily reinforced concrete, with structural steel used for mechanical penthouses and a three-storey elevated pedestrian bridge connecting to the existing building. Foundations consisted of conventional spread and raft footings, while seismic loading governed the lateral design through a reinforced concrete shear wall system integrated with stair and elevator cores.
Challenges & Solutions
A key challenge involved completing major renovations while maintaining hospital operations in adjacent occupied spaces. Structural reinforcements were often required above or below areas scheduled for decanting. MTE collaborated closely with the owner and architect to develop construction phasing strategies that minimized disruption and maintained operational continuity.
Construction staging was also constrained by limited site space and the need to maintain access to recently rebuilt roadways and parking areas. MTE identified these challenges early and proposed shoring solutions that eliminated open-cut excavations, preserving critical access lanes and parking throughout construction.