Infrastructure Ontario and Hamilton Health Sciences announced yesterday that PCL Partnerships is the preferred proponent selected for the design, build and finance of the new McMaster Children's Treatment Centre.

PCL Partnership beat out competition from the other two teams shortlisted in 23 April 2013. The consortium is formed by:

• PCL - Constructor
• TD Securities - Financial Advisor
• Stantec - Architect

The project is expected to reach commercial and financial close in Spring 2014, which will mean that relevant contracts will have been signed and the project's costs finalized. Project costs will be announced publicly following financial close and construction of the centre is expected to begin shortly thereafter.

The project is proceeding under Infrastructure Ontario's alternative financing and procurement model, which transfers the risks associated with designing, constructing, and financing the facility to the private sector.

The new children's centre will be constructed on Wellington Street across from Hamilton Health Sciences' Regional Rehabilitation Centre. It will be fully accessible and will include an outdoor wheeling track, a therapeutic playground and physiotherapy space. The new site will bring together a number of programs that are currently located at Hamilton Health Sciences' Chedoke site. Together, these programs will accommodate 70,000 visits annually.