McMaster Health Campus Grand Opening, May 15, 2015
With over 200 dignitaries, staff and supporters in attendance, John Kelton, the Dean and Vice President of the Faculty of Health Sciences for the University, hosted the Grand Opening Ceremonies of the David Braley Health Sciences Centre on May 15, 2015.
Eleven years in gestation, this beautiful facility is a cornerstone of the City of Hamilton’s revitalization of its downtown core. Located at the corner of Main & Bay street, doors from Hamilton City Hall, the building is the fulfillment of the vision of three mayors to transform the former site of the Hamilton School Board Headquarters.
Designed by architects David Clusiau and Carlos Goncalves of NORR Architects and built by Ball Construction, this six floor soon to be LEED Gold Certified building integrates art, nature and contemporary design.
The team from Ball Construction in attendance for the grand opening were (from left to right) Al Dobson, Liviu Carmazan, Claire Morwood, and Cameron Ball.
This project was a wonderful testament to the skills and dedication of hundreds of trades people from stone cutting to structural glazing to natural “living” roofs and terraces stated Claire Morwood, the Senior Site Supervisor. Claire, along with Al Dobson (Site Supervisor) and Liviu Carmazan (Project Manager) spent 2 years overseeing the completion of the project.
On hand was Cameron Ball, Vice President of Ball Construction seen here being thanked by Dr. John Kelton.
Multiple speakers included President and Vice-Chancellor of the Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster University, Patrick Deane who spoke of the partnership between McMaster Health Sciences and City of Hamilton Medical Services.
The honorable Rona Ambrose converses with former senator and building name sake David Braley.
This was echoed by the honorable Rona Ambrose; Minister of Federal Health who congratulated McMaster for being an integral thread of the Tapestry Project which is focused on superior healthcare and research for senior’s health.
Indira Naidoo-Harris, MPP for Halton, brought greetings from Premier Katherine Wynne and the Ontario Government. She further offered congratulations for the creation of this one-stop public health facility complete with a full maternity and family centre. “The David Braley Health Science Centre will transform health care for Ontarians,” noted MPP Naidoo-Harris. The ground breaking research at McMaster is world class and represents the collaborating of government and universities to put patients first.
Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger thanked councillors and university administration for their partnerships to see over 500 new jobs created in the core of Hamilton while attracting 30 family physicians.
Brief and brilliant, the honourable, retired senator David Braley was welcome to the podium. David thanked the City and McMaster for the honour of having the Centre bear his name. He shared his vision to see McMaster to be the number one medical school in Canada and to be top 5 in the world which received a standing ovation.
Dr. David Price, the chair of family medicine, proudly spoke of the integration of medical research, social services and public health and how the interdisciplinary approach is setting the national agenda for health care.
The last speaker was Dr. Elizabeth Richardson, the Medical Officer of Health for the City of Hamilton who thanked McMaster and the City of Hamilton for their innovative collaboration between teaching, research, family medicine and public health.
The ceremony culminated with a ribbon cutting and reception.
