Northern Health is pleased to announce that the preferred mechanical and electrical non-owner participants (NOPs) for the University Hospital of Northern British Columbia (UHNBC) Acute Care Tower project have been selected:
- Mechanical NOP: PML Professional Mechanical Ltd.
PML, a BC-based company, is a leading mechanical contractor with extensive experience in health care and institutional projects across the province, specializing in innovative and sustainable building systems. - Electrical NOP: Houle Electric
Houle Electric, also based in BC, is one of the province’s largest electrical contractors, recognized for delivering complex electrical solutions in major infrastructure projects, including hospitals and advanced care facilities.
This milestone marks the full formation of the alliance for the UHNBC Acute Care Tower. The alliance contract is a collaborative approach to project delivery that brings together the owner, designers, and contractors as one integrated team under a single agreement. Unlike traditional contracting methods, the alliance contract emphasizes shared responsibility, transparency, and collective decision-making. All partners work toward common goals, share risks and rewards, and commit to resolving challenges jointly, ensuring alignment and accountability from the very beginning. This approach fosters innovation, efficiency, and trust, which are critical for delivering a project of this scale.
“This is a significant step for the UHNBC Acute Care Tower project and for patients and families across Northern BC,” said Josie Osborne, BC’s Minister of Health. “With the NOPs now selected, we’re moving closer to providing the timely, high-quality health care services that communities throughout the North deserve and rely on.”
“The University Hospital of Northern British Columbia Acute Care Tower will bring the high-quality health care infrastructure people need in the North,” said Bowinn Ma, Minister of Infrastructure. “The alliance model being used for this project is one way we’re working to deliver the critical infrastructure people need in their communities more efficiently.”
“The formation of the full alliance marks an exciting step forward for the UHNBC Acute Care Tower project,” said Colleen Nyce, Board Chair of Northern Health. “This collaborative approach ensures that every partner is working together from the very beginning to deliver a facility that meets the needs of patients and families across Northern BC. We are proud to see this project advancing and look forward to the positive impact it will have on health care in our region for decades to come.”
“The UHNBC Acute Care Tower represents a vital investment in the health of residents in the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George,” said Joan Atkinson, Chair of the Fraser-Fort George Regional Hospital District. “It is exciting to see an innovative and efficient approach like the alliance model being employed to strengthen and expand the critical health care services available in our region and across Northern BC.”
“With the selection of all alliance partners, we at Infrastructure BC are pleased to see the UHNBC Acute Care Tower project moving forward,” said Jeff Good, Vice President – Alliance & Stakeholder Relations. “As this our ninth alliance, we look forward to working with our partners to provide this vital health care facility for Northern Health and the communities they serve.”
“We are thrilled to see the full alliance formation completed for the UHNBC Acute Care Tower project,” said Aimee Cassie, CEO of the Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation. “This milestone represents another significant step toward making this transformative project a reality for Northern BC. The importance of this tower cannot be overstated, and we are excited to see it come to fruition for the benefit of patients and communities across the region.”
The next phase of the procurement process will see the full alliance team, Northern Health, EllisDon, and DIALOG, working alongside Infrastructure BC as they enter the Alliance Development Phase. During this period, planning and design will advance to prepare for key milestones: The Northern Interior Health Unit relocation in spring 2026, the start of tower construction in fall 2026, and the anticipated opening for patients in winter 2031.
This transformative $1.579 billion project will deliver a new acute care tower to enhance surgical, cardiac, and mental health and substance use services for residents across Northern BC.