One year down; two to gO! “Everythlng about this job has been _ : very positive," said Hugh Pauwels, OTMH : Viceâ€"President. "The contractor has done â€" a superb job of managing the project, and our staff, medical staff, volunteers, patients and visitors have been very understanding." schedule. Two community information meetings have been held for the benefit of the neighbours. "We want to be a good neighbour," said Mr. Pauwels. "These meetings provide us with the opportunity of thanking those who live around us for being so understanding of the construction program." The ambitious time schedule has been an ongoing challenge. The majority of Phase I will be completed in September. A few areas originally planned to open at that time have been delayed until December. "We have to be aware of all factors, especially fire regulations, in a project of this magnitude," said Mr. Pauwels. "Although we‘d like to open all of Phase I in September, for patient safety we‘ll have to wait until December." This delay is no reflection on the contractor‘s work and will not delay Phase II from beginning in October. As anyone can see from the exterior, the first phase has included extensive new construction. The new areas provide people with an idea of what the entire hospital will look like in 1995. When completed, the exterior facade will be uniform. Close up, one can see the new entrance and the covered walkway which will he second largest health care construction project in Ontario is well under way and right on extend along the front of the hospital to the street. The fiveâ€"storey nursing tower is also very apparent. In September, the opening of the new front lobby will include a full service bank machine, the automated pay station for parking fees and allotted areas for the auxiliary gift shop and the donor wall. The redesigned Pharmacy area will become operational, as will the new Electrodiagnostic Department. This new area will house EKG, stress testing, cardiology, and Respiratory Therapy. These departments are currently spread throughout the Hospital. The basement level of the tower will be occupied by Educational Services and a large multiâ€"purpose meeting room. December will see the completion and opening of the six new operating and recovery rooms. The Intensive Care Unit will also move into its new _ The construction project will ultlmately result in an improved Hospital that will meet the needs of the people we serve. _ The only new beds being added in the construction project are the Hospital‘s 35 chronic care beds that are currently located offâ€"site. <€ 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 14 Phase II begins in October, 993, and is scheduled to take 2 months. The work plan ncludes the complete gutting of ‘the west wing on all floors. Phase ‘III, scheduled for the final nine months, sees the east wing undergoing the same process as in Phase III. _ "We‘re doing our best to maintain "business as usual,‘ which has precipitated some creative juggling," said Mr. Pauwels. Renovations to the food ervices area, including the : dining room will begin in Phase I and extend into Phase II. This will also happen to the Auxiliary Gift Shop, which will move into an unfinished portion of their new area. Above is the OTMH construction site in May 1983. Left is the same site one year later.