There Can Be Only One Bridgepoint Hospital

Despite all the drama Bridgepoint Health (and the Don Jail) went through between Doors Open and now, they broke ground right on schedule just this past Monday and put the wheels in motion to build the new Bridgepoint Hospital with the adjacent old Don Jail being repurposed as a research and administration facility.

Talk of renovating the old Don Jail sparked heated comments from architectural enthusiasts who wanted the nineteenth-century edifice kept under glass and used as a museum instead. At the same time, a less vocal yet passionate group of people have been protesting the planned demolition of the '60s-era "half-round" (the current Bridgepoint Hospital). Opposition started as far back as 2005, but despite efforts from many, the structure is still scheduled to come down in 2013 to make way for a revitalized medical campus, designed by Diamond and Schmitt Architects. In his press release, Gregory Colucci of Diamond and Schmitt said that “we believe in the restorative power of good design. It is as essential to our well-being as are food and rest. For Bridgepoint Health we have designed a hospital that will rehabilitate bodies, restore courage, and lift spirits.”

While demolition is not for a few years, Torontoist dropped by nice and early to capture the funky details of the building that was in its day called the "Taj Mahal of bed-care centres," according to Dave LeBlanc of the Globe and Mail.


A few nice renders found here : http://www.dsai.ca/#/portfolio/healthcare/82/

And a video here : http://bridgepoint.plenaryprojects.com/

All photos by Nick Kozak/Torontoist unless otherwise specified.

http://torontoist.com/attachments/KaoriFurue/20092022bridgepoint09.jpg

http://torontoist.com/attachments/KaoriFurue/20092022bridgepoint03.jpg


http://torontoist.com/attachments/KaoriFurue/20091022bridgepoint01.jpg

May 6th 2011. This one is moving fast now. Cladding should be coming soon.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2779/5695167763_0d89b87878_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2229/5695169155_0b73d92e92_b.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5147/5695170371_04d9226396_b.jpg

This is going to look quite nice perched on the hill, viewed from the Don River Valley/DVP. It's a shame the 60's curved building is eventually getting demolished though. Definitely one of Toronto's (hidden) modern classics.

I think the half-round building suited the natural setting better, at least from the views shown in the photos above. The curved facade provides a softer and gentler transition to the treed hillside than the straight lines and sharp angles of the new building. It's a shame the old building couldn't be saved, or at least an homage paid to it in the new design.

The glass is going on and it's much better then the render. 4 Seasons better.

http://www.bluemelon.com/photo/35495/1545651-T800600.jpg
Larger image here - http://www.bluemelon.com/photo/35495/1545651.jpg

http://www.bluemelon.com/photo/35495/1545652-T800600.jpg
Larger image here - http://www.bluemelon.com/photo/35495/1545652.jpg

^^ better shots than my long distance one from Riverdale Farm:

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j251/dawnd_01/WINTER%202008/Winter%20Part%20Two%202009/Late%20Summer%20Early%20Fall%202009/2010%20Summer%20Part%20Deux/SUMMER%202011/IMGP6810.jpg

The people that need to be in that hospital will at least have a killer view of the city for as long as they need to be there.

I guess that some of the old inmates of the Don Jail also had a killer view! :yes:

Damn isn't there anyway that modernist building can be saved?

This building looks great so far while driving along the DVP. Glass quality is amongst the best in the city. Also gotta attempt getting into this building to take some skyline photos later when it's finished LOL.

http://www.bluemelon.com/photo/35495/1571467-S1600x700.0.jpg?optimalizedperformance=true

http://www.bluemelon.com/photo/35495/1571468-S1600x700.0.jpg?optimalizedperformance=true

And saw this guy near the site.

http://www.bluemelon.com/photo/35495/1571470-S1600x700.0.jpg?optimalizedperformance=true

By androiduk on UT.

http://andrewfare.com/UTC/mytoronto16/bridepoints10.jpg

Aug 22
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8174/7939540438_57976deb62_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/15643394@N05/7939540438/)
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8306/7939537688_785781ae39_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/15643394@N05/7939537688/)
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8179/7939535138_b05509c22a_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/15643394@N05/7939535138/)

All that is left id the interior. I wish they could save the old structure I think it looks amazing next to the new building.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8334/8086438722_0c242dae86_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8055/8086440498_1198ef2b6e_b.jpg

All that is left id the interior. I wish they could save the old structure I think it looks amazing next to the new building.



Wait.... back up. You mean the old Don Jail? There is no word of them demolishing it, is there? It is too important a civic building to be demolished.

They're demolishing the old Bridgepoint hospital.

ah!! Okay, thanks for clarifying. I was scared there for a minute! :)

Losing that building is quite a shame in itself too though.

Bridgepoint Hospital today. Possible the nicest looking Hospital in the province now. Once the jail is gone and all of the land around is landscaped with trails linking the valley it will be one of the nicest park areas near the core. They'll be lighting up the old jail building with LED lights at night as well.

From Jack Layton Way.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8512/8506159232_5cb33ab78a_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8243/8504997893_6ef980aa7a_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8366/8505049645_ceb9c78916_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8529/8506158324_d05beeb056_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8374/8506157862_d8ee170c6c_b.jpg

And then there's this. It would take forever to get a drink with two bartenders like this.

XZsiY9S4WpI