Renovated waiting space opens at University of Alberta Hospital

After several years in the making, the fourth floor atrium at the University of Alberta Hospital is now open to patients, families, and staff

Patients, families and staff at the University of Alberta Hospital will now have a new peaceful space on the 4th Floor Atrium.

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“I’m super excited because it really does allow a very massive space that we have available in the hospital to really come together with thoughtful mindfulness put behind it,” said Rabia Ishaq, site executive director at University of Alberta Hospital.

Ishaq said the space cost $3 million and the idea was conceptualized in 2021.

There’s space for gathering, quiet reflection and performance. It’s intended for everyone but especially patients going through surgery.

While there are some big, open spaces in the hospital, there’s always space required outside of the “hustle and bustle” and with a less sterile environment, Ishaq said.

“We’ve often heard from people it’s a place to come together to do reflection and quiet discussions,” she added.

The space mimics the hospital’s Healing Garden and the Edmonton River Valley in a modern way with green furniture and plants, aiming to bring the outdoors inside.

“Everyone who works in the hospital environment is under tremendous stress,” said Dr. Jodi Abbott, president and CEO of the University Hospital Foundation.

“They work very, very hard, they’re dealing with illness all the time and being able to come as an employee into the space, whether it’s a physician, a physio therapist or a nurse and just have some quiet time is critically important.”

Court Carruthers has had many visits with family at the hospital for weeks at a time – he found himself spending a lot of time waiting while making important life-altering decisions.

“For many years after going through that, we’ve worked with the foundation, with AHS (Alberta Health Services), to try and find that appropriate space where you can have a great place that’s peaceful to wait.”

Carruthers donated $1 million to help the new space become a reality. He’s from Edmonton but now lives in Chicago. He’s periodically come to visit to see the space being built.

“It’s great to see the genesis of that development but it’s even better to see it all come to fruition today,” he said.