BRI. Photo credit: RelevateurHolland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital (HBKRH) is celebrating the completion of its Bloorview Research Institute (BRI) expansion with its newly built 11,000-square-foot research tower. The BRI is now home to the largest concentration of pediatric disability research in the world.This milestone will lead to discoveries that will aim to enhance the quality of life for children and youth with disabilities and developmental differencesabout 400,000 individuals in Canada and millions worldwide.BRI. Photo credit: Tom ArbanHBKRH is Canadas largest childrens rehabilitation hospital in Toronto, and was founded in 1899 by community-minded women who set out to create a Home for Incurable Children where all youth and children belong. It is also currently Canadas only childrens rehabilitation healthcare facility which is focused on combining care, research, and academic leadership in child and youth rehabilitation and disability.Affiliated with the University of Toronto, this research hospital sees more than 2,000 unique diagnoses on an annual basis, including brain injury, cerebral palsy, and developmental delay.BRI. Photo credit: Tom ArbanAt this hospital, a holistic approach is taken to assist young people in achieving their goals, which includes physical and cognitive development as well as life skills such as employment readiness, transitioning to adult services and friendship. Children and youth also have access to music, arts, fitness, science and technology programming.BRI. Photo credit: Tom ArbanIn addition to the two-storey Jason Smith Research Tower, the expansion includes a renovation of the existing 17,000-square-foot research space. Gow Hastings Architects collaborated with the hospital to create uniquely specialized and accessible facilities, encouraging connection between researchers and families.The new wing connects to the existing fourth floor of the BRI via an open and accessible flex space. Conceived of as a public front porch, this is where families can meet with researchers and staff. The flex space leads to communal and interdisciplinary Discovery Hubs that are incorporated within both the new wing, and the renovated space of the hospitals fourth floor.BRI. Photo credit: Tom ArbanGow Hastings team designed features for the BRI that extend beyond AODA guidelines, such as extra wide doors and hallways, door operating devices along busy pathways, colour contrast between walls, floors, and doors to assist with navigation for the visually impaired, as well as height-adjustable desks in workspaces.The project aimed to bring about a direct connection with and minimal impact on the surrounding natural environment. Seen from the outside, the new wing is an addition to the original building, with brightly-coloured aluminum composite cladding sitting over columns three-storeys above grade.BRI. Photo credit: Tom ArbanThe reflective aluminum soffit of the research tower expands the outdoor space of the hospital, reflecting the surrounding nature. The tower suspends over the Sunnybrook Ravine like a treehouse. Children are also able to enjoy a fully-accessible playground on the west side of the hospital.The post Gow Hastings designs Bloorview Research Institute expansion appeared first on Canadian Architect.