What’s expected to be the first all mass timber acute care hospital in North America has broken ground. The 97,000-sf Quinte Health Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital will be located in Picton, Ontario, Canada, with completion anticipated for 2027. Designed by HDR and constructed by M. Sullivan & Son, the mass timber structure integrates sustainable building practices with advanced medical technology. According to HDR, unencapsulated mass timber sequesters carbon better than any other structural material. “It’s about balancing environmental and social sustainability in the sense that mass timber in healthcare is at once about human comfort and environmental stewardship,” Jason-Emery Groen, design principal at HDR, said in a statement. To optimize energy use and reduce the carbon footprint, the design incorporates natural light, energy-efficient windows, and sustainable materials throughout, including the structure. …In line with biophilic principles, the design offers access to nature throughout the facility.