Western Memorial Regional Hospital in Newfoundland, WMRH Corner Brook Canada, Canadian healthcare facility

Western Memorial Regional Hospital Newfoundland Building

January 6, 2026

Architect: Parkin & B+H Architects

Location: Corner Brook, Newfoundland, Canada

Photos by A Frame Photography & Julian Parkinson

Western Memorial Regional Hospital in Newfoundland, Canada, by Parkin Architects

The new Western Memorial Regional Hospital (WMRH) is a state-of-the-art healthcare facility in the City of Corner Brook, Newfoundland. One feature that makes this seven-storey, 600,000 sq ft acute care facility unique is the top floor entirely dedicated to mental health. With patient well-being in mind, Parkin Architects designed the floor with an environment that prioritizes privacy, dignity, and a healing atmosphere that begins on the first floor, from the Emergency Department.

A significant aspect of the mental health floor is the discreet and efficient patient transfer strategy from the ED. Private routes link the mental health department directly to the Emergency Department and other critical care areas via dedicated elevators, ensuring that patients can move through the hospital with dignity and privacy. This careful planning extends to the Real Time Location System (RTLS) deployed throughout the facility, which enhances safety by monitoring patient movement and providing staff duress systems.

At the top, patients are offered unparalleled views of the surrounding mountains, the City of Corner Brook, and the harbour. The location is strategically chosen to provide serenity and isolation from other clinical activities, ensuring a peaceful and distraction-free environment that supports the healing process.

The floor includes two landscaped roof terraces—one for adults and another for adolescents—designed as safe outdoor rooms. These terraces, enclosed by high walls and integrated into the architecture, offer panoramic views while being shielded from wind, snow, and noise. This design prioritizes patient security and comfort, providing a sanctuary away from the noise and hustle of the ground level.

Each patient room is thoughtfully designed with a larger footprint than standard, aiming to create a homelike atmosphere rather than an institutional one. The rooms are bathed in natural light, with bright, warm, and calming colors that contribute to a soothing environment. The floor plan also ensures optimal sightlines for patient observation, allowing staff to monitor patients discreetly without the need for intrusive technology.

Beyond its mental health department, WMRH is a comprehensive healthcare facility that replaces the aging Western Memorial Regional Hospital. The new hospital features 164 acute care beds and delivers the same broad spectrum of services, serving as the only acute care facility for a large catchment area in Western Newfoundland.

The hospital is home to an expanded cancer care program operated by Eastern Health, which includes state-of-the-art radiation therapy vaults, systemic therapy, and outpatient clinics. Adjacent to this is a renal dialysis unit, sharing a dedicated and private entrance that respects patient dignity and privacy. The hospital’s main floor houses the emergency department, diagnostic imaging, ambulatory care, a clinical lab serving the region, administration offices, and public amenities like a large cafeteria and terrace.

On the second level, the hospital includes a 12-bed critical care unit, six operating rooms, a minor procedures suite, a labour and delivery unit, and a pediatric unit. The two upper floors accommodate inpatient units, each with 60 beds organized into pods of 15, promoting both operational efficiency and patient comfort.

WMRH is not just a healthcare facility but also a landmark that celebrates the beauty of its natural surroundings. The hospital’s exterior features silver columns that abstractly mirror the birch trees of the local landscape, reinforcing its connection to the environment.

WMRH recently achieved LEED Silver Status. LED lighting, lighting controls, daylight sensors, and occupancy sensors give users and operators control over their space. The hospital is equipped with Canada’s largest geothermal system within a healthcare setting, located beneath the parking lot. Geothermal energy is a renewable energy source that eliminates the use of fossil fuels. This makes WMRH a model of sustainability, blending advanced medical care with environmentally responsible design. The facility’s thoughtful planning, from its welcoming entrances to its patient-centered design, ensures that WMRH not only meets the healthcare needs of Western Newfoundland but also sets a new standard for patient care and community engagement.

The Corner Brook Health Partnership team successfully delivered the project to the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and NL Health Services in November, 2023 on time, and on budget. Western Memorial was designed by Parkin and B+H Architects, with PCL Constructors Canada Inc., in joint venture with Marco Group, as the design-build team.