1914 – King George Isolation Hospital, Fort Rouge, Winnipeg

Design selected after an architectural competition in 1911, and constructed between 1913 and 1914, demolished in 1999.

“The accompanying design was submitted in competition with thirteen others and won by Herbert B. Rugh, who has since consolidated his business with Ross & McFarlane in respect to their Western work. The arrangement of the different rooms was pronounced by the Hospital Expert and Jury of award the best layout they had ever seen for an institution for the treatment of contagious diseases. Perfect control is obtained by the arrangement of inside lobby and the double protection and isolation of each wing from the other by having the doctor and nurses enter the various wings by going into the doctor’s room from the inside lobby, removing their outer garments and then stepping into the chart and gown loom, where they put on their gowns and prepare themselves for their work, entering the ward from this room ready for work. in this way the double doors to the ward corridor are kept closed, except for the removal or admittance of a patient. Only two minor changes were made in the plans.

The exterior finish of the building from the grade line to first floor window sills is to be cut stone, and the balance of the building finished in brown vitrified brick with cut stone trim. The foundation of the building will be concrete, properly waterproofed. The construction is to be fireproof, with structural steel frame. The floor construction is to be reinforce concrete or tile. The corridor partitions are to be double four-inch hollow tile, so constructed that the space inside the partition may be used for ventilator Hues. The main stairway will be of ornamental iron, with marble steps. The floors of all bath rooms, sink and service rooms, lavatories and toilets are to be tiled with 6-in. square flint tile and the walls tiled 6 ft. 6 in. high with sanitary wall tiling, having sanitary cove at floor and sanitary corners, etc. The floors of corridors, wards and other rooms are to be covered with Battleship linoleum, cemented down to concrete, with plastic cove and border at floor. All ceilings are to have plaster cove. All windows will be steel casements, the lower casement section to open in with adjusters, etc. and the upper transom section to be hinged at bottom to open in and down with adjusters, etc. Storm sash will be provided to cover entire opening outside with ventilator at bottom; screens also to cover entire opening.

The heating and ventilation are to be of the most modern type, all wards, corridors, etc., to be supplied with direct radiation, using the modulation system. All service rooms, kitchens, toilets and wards will have “Vacuum” ventilation. Fresh air is to be taken from a point above the roof of the building to fans located in the basement, there to be heated, washed, etc., and blown into the wards through galvanized iron ducts located in false ceiling of corridors, the foul air to be taken up in vents in corridor partitions, to space under roof, then discharged by exhaustive fans through the roof at the opposite end of the building from fresh air intakes. Vent openings are to be placed at floor and ceiling, so that in hot weather air can be drawn from the upper part of room as well as the lower. The plumbing and laundry fixtures are to be modern in every respect. The building will be equipped with vacuum cleaning system throughout.

The plans need very few words of explanation. The sexes are separated and each floor is arranged to be used as an elastic ward, or for a single disease. The main stair and elevator lobby is entirely shut off at each floor and from this lobby, another entirely enclosed vestibule has to be passed before the ward is reached, so that perfect isolation is attained for each wing of each floor. The doctor has a room with private lavatory in each wing, entered from the inside lobby, in which he removes his outer garments then steps into the chart and gown room, and from there into the ward. The ward doors in corridors need not be used except for bringing in or removing patients. In the sink room on each floor of each wing there is a specimen closet with vent connection for ventilation. The soiled linen chute, also in this room, is made of 15-inch vitrified pipe, imbedded in cement, so arranged that it can be flushed or sterilized at any time.
The building is designed to accommodate one hundred and fifty patients and contains 686,174 cubic feet, including porches, entrances, etc. Each patient is given 1,232 cubic feet. An efficient elevator service, lavatories and all conveniences are provided.”
Engineering and Contract Record, November 22, 1911

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