NYG Birthing Centre

North York General (NYG) is one of Ontario, Canada’s largest single-site birthing centers, welcoming more than 4,500 babies each year. Ahead of a new Maternal Care Centre planned within NYG’s future Patient Care Tower, the hospital prioritized renovating its existing Birthing Centre to better serve a diverse and growing community. Supported by the NYG Foundation and donor partners, the project set out to modernize the labor, delivery, triage, and postpartum units to reflect the high standard of care that clinicians provide and families expect.

Our integrated team led architecture, interior design, and structural engineering. As Lead Architect, we collaborated with Hariri Pontarini Architects as Design Architect. Working closely with hospital leaders and care teams, the process was deeply collaborative, grounded in empathy, inclusivity, and operational insight. As part of the Immersive Design Process, co-created with Advanced Performance, simulation exercises with clinicians mapped the entire birthing journey to inform room layouts and workflow.

Feedback from patients and families directly shaped the outcomes, influencing lighting placement, furniture comfort, and accessibility. Soft pastel colors, biophilia, and indirect light help create a calm, reassuring atmosphere. Upgraded materials and finishes balance aesthetic with rigorous infection-control performance. Integrated systems such as infant monitoring, access control, and nurse-call technology enhance protection for mothers and newborns.

Delivered in four carefully sequenced phases, the renovation maintained full hospital operations throughout construction. Today, the renewed Birthing Centre offers a home-like environment with upgraded suites, family lounges, and welcoming public spaces, reflecting NYG’s commitment to safer beginnings for every family.