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“And if we get things right, the new campus of The Ottawa Hospital will have a bigger impact on our community’s health than any of us can imagine.”

With a $3-million grant from the province, The Ottawa Hospital is now into its first year of what’s expected to be a four- or five-year planning process for the development of a new regional trauma centre on the former site of the Sir John Carling building, which was demolished in 2014.

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The new super hospital is not expected to open until 2026.

The initial concept, unveiled Wednesday, was described as a “test” to understand how the hospital will fit onto the 50-acre site. Based on feedback from a series of public information sessions held last fall, architects from the design and engineering firm, HDR Inc., were told to take advantage of public transit, to maximize green space, and to preserve trees and pathways.

The concept for the new Civic campus concentrates the hospital buildings — two horseshoe-shaped wings connected by raised walkways — in the northeast section of the site to minimize their impact on the Experimental Farm. The design also allows for pedestrians to walk through the site, and onto the “green roof” of a below-grade emergency department.

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The architects faced several challenges during the design process, not the least of which is the fact that the site has a 20-metre change in elevation.

Hospital chief operating officer Cameron Love said the southernmost building, above the escarpment, is projected to be 12-storeys high and would house emergency, acute care, in-patient, surgical and rehabilitation services. The lower building, close to Carling Avenue, is expected to be eight-storeys high and would house outpatient clinics and education facilities.