b'COVID-19 RELIEFTHEYVE GOT ITCOVEREDBLT CONSTRUCTION BUILDS FIELD HOSPITALS FOR COVID RELIEF By Sarah B. HoodAS COVID-19 SWEPT THE WORLDThe idea came from within the companyJoseph Brant Hospital in Burlington was LAST SPRING, HOSPITALS INas COVID-19 began to make itself felt andthe first to respond. They called us around HOT SPOTS like Northern Italy and Newregular operations began to shut down,March 23 and we had 14 days to design, York City were swamped by a tsunami ofsays BLT vice president, Design + Build,build and open a COVID-specific pandemic patients, many of whom required intensive- Paul Waddell: COVID had escalatedresponse unit with 93 beds, notes care beds. Other regions mobilized toincredibly in mid-March this year, so I thinkWaddell. That was very intense,flatten the curve, i.e., slow the progressall businesses were reeling as to what wasvery rewarding.of the disease long enough so bettertheir move forward. treatments, and perhaps a vaccine, couldIn April, Joseph Brant chief of staffbring an end to the threat of the virus.Examining the possibilities and seeing thatDr. Ian Preyra told Dan Taekema ofthe hospital sector in particular was facingCBC News that the additional space would Right away, Torontos BLT Constructionurgent space shortages, the companyfree up resources inside the hospital and Services moved to provide part of thespearheaded a targeted campaign lookingprepare the facility to handle a worst-case solution for Canada: quick, efficient fieldat the viability of a temporary structure.scenario. I think the greatest praise we hospitals that could take the strain offWhy not put some of these temporarycould receive after all this is said and done overcrowded wards. structures out in your parking lot? is that Joseph Brant Hospital was over says Waddell. prepared, he said.Today, as various versions of a vaccine are actually being deployed, theres light atMAKING IT HAPPEN Immediately after that one, Trillium the end of the tunnel. But, with caseloadsTo make it happen, BLT turned to aHealth Resources had the need for soaring far beyond the spring totals,company they have previously partneredsuch a structure, and BLT completed it medical professionals are continuing towith, Sprung Structures out of Calgary.in three weeks time in Mississauga. It express concern that our capacity to careWeve had a long affiliation with themwasnt necessarily for COVID use; it was a for the ill may be overtopped by the volumedoing numerous projects; the most recentpandemic response unit that could free up of need. BLT stands ready with facilitieswas three respite centres for the City ofmore space in the hospital, says Waddell. that can be erected in mere days. Toronto, Waddell says. From there, we [journeyed] up to Barries 20Quarter 4 2020 BUILDERSDIGEST'