$13.1 million Professional Firefighters Burn Fund Centre addresses shortfall CaDCR staff writer Construction has started on a new $13.1 million Burn Fund Centre intended to fill a shortfall in patient accommo- dation for B.C. burn and trauma survivors. The project, which broke ground in September, is lo- cated between the B.C. Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn, Trauma and Plastics Unit at Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) and B.C. Children’s Hospital. The LEED Gold equiv- alent building has been designed by Walter Francl Archi- tect Inc. The Construction and Specialized Workers’ Union (CWSU) Local 1611 has identified Bosa Developments as the project's general contractor. A release announcing the project notes that annually al- most “700 children and adults from around B.C. are admit- ted to the burn, trauma and plastics units at VGH and B.C. Children’s Hospital suffering serious trauma. Patients gen- erally stay at least a month in the hospital (but it can be up to several months) during both acute and reconstructive phases of care.” The new centre will support the needs of caregivers who require close, affordable accommodation to support patients while in hospital and will provide out-patient ac- commodation once patients leave. The announcement says many will still require regular medical attention after discharge in a healing environment that recognizes their susceptibility to infection. The three-storey glass and metal structure will include eight short-term-stay, fully furnished suites with a commu- nal great room, library, children’s play area, laundry facili- 38 – Fall 2014 — The Canadian Design and Construction Report ties, computer stations, a resource and games library and a family kitchen on the middle floor. Central offices for the B.C. Professional Fire Fighters’ Association and Burn Fund will be moved from current leased spaces to the centre's upper floor and will include meeting and community space and burn and safety awareness resources and programs. The main floor will include secure outdoor spaces in- cluding a healing garden with plants chosen “for their burn injury-friendly qualities.” Also on ground level is 3,100 sq. ft. of retail space intended to provide an element of sus- tainability to the project through rental revenues. The project has been partially funded through a $4 mil- lion investment from B.C. Housing and the B.C. Ministry of Health, $1.3 million pledged from 27 professional fire fighter locals from across the province, and also includes land donated from the City of Vancouver. A fundraising goal of $1 million still remains. The firefighters association established the burn fund in 1978. Recognizing the facilities for burn victims at the time were inadequate, the union pledged $1 million to a new burn unit, realized in 1996 with the opening of the burn, plastic and trauma unit at Vancouver General Hospital's (VGH) Pattison Pavilion. It is the only adult level one trauma centre of its kind in the province. The fund also contributed an initial $400,000 to set up a research lab (which has grown from three to 18 re- searchers), and has partnered with the VGH Foundation to raise $3 million to endow a research chair. Contributions to support the completion of the project can be made through http://burnfund.org.