What's Coming Next in Site Redevelopment
The next step in CAMH's Queen Street redevelopment project
With the first phase of Transforming Lives Here, the Queen Street redevelopment project, now complete and operational, thoughts are quickly turning to the next steps of
the project. Pictured below, Phase 1B of our project will dramatically transform the current campus of 1001 Queen Street West
through the removal of the existing Administration Building and the construction of three new buildings. This next step in
the Queen Street redevelopment project will make great strides towards our vision of providing high-quality and integrated
mental health and addiction care in a revitalized urban village.
click above to expand this image
A short introduction to the next phase
With this next step in the Queen Street redevelopment project, CAMH is delivering what it has promised from the beginning:
the replacement of an institutional campus with a real community setting for client care.
A new client care building (shown below), temporarily known as the Intergenerational Wellness Centre, will include 12 new
beds for youth aged from 14 to 18 who are dealing with both mental health and addictions issues, a vulnerable and high-needs
group. These beds are the first in their kind in Toronto and reflect CAMH’s commitment to extending high-quality care towards
under serviced groups. This building will also house CAMH's Geriatric Mental Health Program, which combines 48 in-patient
beds with a suite of outpatient programming and supports. The integration of Geriatric Mental Health inpatient and outpatient
programs in one building will simplify and improve client access to CAMH’s programs and reflects our client-centered philosophy
of care.
(Above Left) The new client care building, temporarily called the Intergenerational Wellness Centre, will feature a private
landscaped courtyard, and terraces on each floor. (Above Right) The building viewed from future Shaw Park, looking west along
'New Street'.
Silos between Addictions and Mental Health treatment will come down as CAMH’s programs come together at the Queen Street hub.
At the end of Phase 1B, CAMH’s Addictions Program will be fully integrated at the Queen Street site, and no longer split between
different locations. The co-location of addictions and mental health professionals will lead to increased collaboration between
CAMH staff and better results for clients, particularly the 40 per cent who have both disorders concurrently. Furthermore,
the Queen Street redevelopment is not just a Toronto story — in our new hub, CAMH will provide clinical training for physicians,
nurses and allied health care workers. All of Ontario will benefit from our specialized care.
Looking east along future 'New Street.' CAMH's new Administrative & Outpatient Hub, temporarily called the CAMH GAteway Building,
is to the left; at right is the future central plant/parking garage/gymnasium, temporarily called the Utilities and Parking
Building. Tree-lined boulevards will be constructed throughout the new urban village.
We can never know exactly how medical science will change mental health and addiction care in the future, but we can build
flexible buildings that can accommodate changing needs and uses over time. Through the construction of flexible buildings,
CAMH’s redevelopment project will ensure that our facilities can keep pace with advances in treatment. The three new buildings
of this phase feature large windows and plenty of natural light, and will both complement and add to the Queen Street West
neighbourhood. Great outdoor spaces, such as a private courtyard for CAMH clients, generous sidewalks and tree-lined boulevards,
will also be provided.
City of Toronto City Council granted approval in principle to CAMH's Site Plan Application for this phase of the redevelopment
project in June 2008 and a Site Plan Agreement was signed in December 2008. Preparatory work on the new roads will begin in
March 2009. Over the course of 2008 and 2009, CAMH will gradually relocate programs, services and staff from the existing
3-story brick Administration Building that fronts on Queen Street West. This building will be demolished in early 2010 to
create the Phase 1B construction site. We expect the three buildings of Phase 1B to be completed by Fall 2012. Visitors to
the Queen Street site may encounter some construction activities during the months of January to September 2009 as these interior
and exterior projects are constructed. For a visual illustration of CAMH's Queen Street site during Phase 1B construction
and at completion, please click on the graphics below.
(Above Left) A graphic guide to the Phase 1B project schedule. (Above Right) CAMH's Queen Street site at the conclusion of
Phase 1B of the Queen Street redevelopment project -- Fall 2012.
The scheduled demolition of the Administration Building in early 2010 will require a series of temporary adjustments, as a
number of programs and staff are to be relocated into interim accommodations. The majority of the affected operations will
remain at the Queen Street site, or move to CAMH’s other major Toronto location at the intersection of College Street and
Spadina Avenue. However, some CAMH administrative and outpatient services will be moving into leased office space near the
Queen Street site.
CAMH has leased office space at 901 King Street West (King and Strachan) and 862 Richmond Street West (Richmond and Strachan).
Several outpatient support programs moved to 862 Richmond Street West in December 2008. In the summer of 2009, CAMH’s core
administrative personnel will move to 901 King Street West. As well, Workman Arts will be moving to 651 Dufferin Avenue in
April 2009. This series of renovations and moves will continue until the Administration Building is completely vacant by November
2009.
Only CAMH administrative functions, Workman Arts and counseling programs that work with persons already living in the community
will be moving to the three smaller off-site locations shown on the map below. The outpatient programs that moved to 862 Richmond
Street West work exclusively with persons who are outpatients of CAMH and who live in the community. In general, CAMH staff
works to assist these people regarding the social determinants of health (e.g. housing, employment) their ongoing recovery
plans and community living. Their work consists of both visiting persons where they live and receiving these registered outpatients
for regular appointments. Please click on the diagrams below for an expanded version of the move schedule for these interim
relocations and a map showing CAMH's main downtown facilities during construction of Phase 1B.
(Above left) CAMH's main downtown Toronto facilities following this series of relocations.(Above right) The series of moves
required to relocate programs and services from CAMH's existing Administration Building.
As the next phase of Transforming Lives Here continues to come together, please keep an eye on this space for news and information.
Centre for Addiction
