BARLO MS Centre, St. Michael's Hospital

Toronto, ON

The BARLO MS Centre advances St. Michael’s Hospital’s (SMH) mission to become the world’s leading centre for one-stop MS care, research, and education. Initially, MS clinics and research areas were scattered across the SMH campus, which posed a challenge for patients with mobility issues and hindered knowledge exchange between healthcare professionals, researchers, and students. By creating an integrated space on the top two floors of the Peter Gilgan Tower, the BARLO MS Centre reflects the patient-centred care and expertise that St. Michael’s is known for.

Marking a new era for comprehensive MS care, the new facility includes technology-rich lecture space, exam and procedure rooms, a gymnasium, group physiotherapy studio, a medical infusion zone, private consult rooms, and a mock apartment. Curvilinear forms and natural materials establish an uplifting atmosphere for patient wellness, breaking the rigidity of traditional healthcare environments. A skylight and feature stair anchor the atrium in the heart of the facility, infusing the space with natural light and enhancing visual connectivity throughout. Floor-to-ceiling windows reinforce a connection to the urban setting with expansive views of the city—a distinctive illuminated presence, connected and anchored.

Project Facts
Client
Unity Health Toronto
Location
Toronto, ON
Status
Completed 2021
Size
30,000 sq. ft.
Partner
Siamak Hariri
Selected Awards

2022 – Dezeen, Leisure and Wellness Interior of the Year

Private family consult rooms.

The skylight and atrium are signature design features that allow natural light to cascade through both floors of the facility, enhancing visual connectivity within the space.

The feature stair serves as both a site for physical therapy and a podium for education. Physically connecting the two floors of the facility, the stairway reflects BARLO’s integrated model of care.

The BARLO MS Centre boasts expanded technological capacity to integrate the latest advances in healthcare delivery. This includes webcams and TVs to facilitate virtual consultations, audiovisual systems that connect to patients’ hearing aids, medical infusion pods with full occupant controls, and a real-time locator system to track patients throughout the facility.

The medical infusion pods were designed to resemble a first-class airplane lounge, providing patients with privacy, space for loved ones, and views of the city. Patients have complete control over their environment to make treatment as comfortable as possible.