The Niagara Health hospital system in Niagara, Canada, has announced the start of work on the South Niagara Hospital project superstructure.

The new hospital is set to rise above ground level, having been under construction largely below ground until now.

According to Niagara Health, at the deepest point, the basement floor of the South Niagara Hospital is currently 5m below ground.

Approximately 75% of the underground work, including the installation of electrical systems, stormwater and sanitary sewers and waterlines, is reportedly complete.

To support the foundation, steel piles have been driven 18m into the bedrock.

Over the next two years, the building is expected to grow incrementally, reaching a height of 61m with a total of 12 storeys.

Niagara Health redevelopment team Transaction and Construction director Patrick Topping said: “We are almost a year into the construction of the South Niagara Hospital, and EllisDon Infrastructure Healthcare has been making great progress.

“From a distance, it’s hard to see what’s happening during construction on the substructure, but now that crews have started work on the superstructure, changes are going to come much quicker and it will be more exciting to watch the project evolve.”

Located in the city of Niagara Falls, the South Niagara Hospital project is expected to be completed in 2028.

Construction of the building structure is scheduled to be completed by April 2026, with the exterior to be finished shortly thereafter.

The hospital will offer a full range of hospital services, including critical care, emergency, therapeutic, surgical services and diagnostic services.

It will also have Centres of Excellence in complex care, wellness in ageing and treatment for strokes.

Around 160 workers are currently employed at the site each day, but Niagara Health expects this to increase to more than 1,000 workers and skilled labourers during peak construction periods.