Executive Summary

The following Urban Design Guidelines are both an aspirational vision as well as a practical planning and design direction for Healthcare-Oriented Communities (HOCs). They present at a high-level the development approach, typologies, connectivity principles, and favourable mix of uses that may support thriving HOCs and can be used as a reference during early planning stages. It also outlines strategic coordination between involved parties but is not meant to be prescriptive. The Urban Design Guidelines are the second part of the Healthcare-Oriented Communities Project, following a jurisdictional case study review.

How to Use the Guidelines

The guidelines provide a set of design direction and planning strategies, informed by best practices in the jurisdictional case study review with objectives of optimizing public land assets. These guidelines could be considered a tool to be accessed when planning healthcare spaces, both new and existing. Each guideline section contains directions that apply to all HOCs in addition to unique considerations specific to each of the three HOC classifications when applicable.

The guidelines should be used in conjunction with other existing standards and planning processes, some of which are required by law, including but not limited to:

Mandatory:

• CSA Z8000 Canadian Healthcare Facilities National Standard
• Ontario Building Code
• Ontario Fire Code
• Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act

Planning Frameworks:

• Hospital Capital Planning and Policy Manual (Ontario Health)
• Rural and Northern Healthcare Framework (Ministry of Health, Ministry of Long-Term Care)

Design Manuals and Guidelines:

• Long-Term Care Home Design Manual (Ministry of Long-Term Care)
• Facility Guidelines Institute (FGI) Guidelines: The Design and Construction of Hospitals; The Design and Construction of Residential Health, Care, and Facilities (industry standard)

Other Relevant Policies Found in:

• Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Act R.S.O. 1990 (MOHLTCA)
• Public Hospitals Act R.S.O. 1990 (PHA)
• Broader Public Sector (BPS Accountability Act, 2010 and BPS Procurement Directive