Our Final Phase of Redevelopment

From the outset of the Queen Street Redevelopment Project—which began as an idea in 1999—CAMH adopted a vision where innovative patient care and research would be delivered in state-of-the-art buildings integrated with the surrounding neighbourhood. The end result would be a safe, comfortable, and welcoming place where patients could recover with dignity, and social attitudes toward mental illness could change.

Since the release of our Master Plan in 2000, we’ve been building out this vision through multiple phases of redevelopment. The most recent phase included a new and enhanced TD Commons greenspace and two new buildings: the Crisis & Critical Care Building and the McCain Complex Care & Recovery Building.

Finally after over two decades, we’re now entering the fourth and final phase of our historic redevelopment. This phase, also known as 1D, will include two new CAMH buildings on Queen Street West to replace existing facilities for patients with complex mental illness who have encountered the legal system, and to consolidate research in one state-of-the-art facility. 

The Research Centre will consolidate current CAMH research from across the city into one centralized location. This building is essential to our redevelopment, as it will help advance research currently being conducted to influence the future of mental health care. As a global leader in mental health research, we know that with the construction of this new facility, we can continue to be at the forefront of research discoveries and developments that will improve the lives of those living with mental illness.

The Secure Care and Recovery building is a Ministry of Health funded project to redevelop our existing facilities for patients with mental illness who have encountered the law. The current space is an old, institutional building that was not purpose-built for modern concepts of forensic health care. If you walk on site, these are the 1960s era concrete structures near the back of the property. CAMH is mandated and funded by the province to provide forensic mental health care. This new facility will expand and create new programming to help us better support our patients in their recovery, ultimately making our community safer and healthier. 

All of our redevelopment projects have gone through rigorous approval processes, including consultations with community partners, provincial government bodies such as Infrastructure Ontario, and City of Toronto officials. The initial public consultation for the Secure Care and Recovery building occurred in September 2021. There will be many other opportunities to engage with us about this upcoming phase. 

Here is an estimated timeline for the final phase of our redevelopment:

Spring 2022

Completion of Phase 1C redevelopment. All construction and demolition activities are complete. Fences surrounding the campus are removed, and will open to all community members.

2022-2023

Numerous submissions and applications to the Ministry of Health, City of Toronto, Infrastructure Ontario, and other partners. Renovation of current spaces to prepare for the relocation of services to unoccupied buildings.

October 2023

Predicted groundbreaking for the next phase (Phase 1D) to replace existing facilities for patients with complex mental illness who have encountered the legal system. This phase will include “Early Works” - namely the demolition of current buildings on campus including the Community Centre. 

January 2024

Predicted groundbreaking for the next phase (Phase 1D) to build a state-of-the-art Research Centre. 

2023-2027

Ongoing construction work on the Queen Street campus for both buildings. This will include traditional construction and redevelopment activities that we’ve seen in previous phases using large machinery and construction equipment. We appreciate your patience and understanding during this essential work. 

Q1 2027

Substantial completion of the Secure Care and Recovery Building and Research Centre. The majority of the demolition and construction should be complete. We anticipate that most of the noisier, messier, inconvenient work will phase out and work will wrap up.

Q2 2027

Predicted Grand Opening of two new CAMH buildings on the Queen Street campus to replace existing facilities for patients with complex mental illness who have encountered the legal system, and to consolidate research in one state-of-the-art facility. All construction activities and closures are expected to be complete.

We’re in a quiet phase right now, and are not anticipating any construction, redevelopment, or noise until 2023. In the meantime, we look forward to welcoming you back to our campus, having you join us once again for tours and exciting events, and using our new TD Commons green space. We’re proud of the progress that has been made towards the ultimate vision in the Master Plan, and are looking forward to the successful conclusion of our redevelopment.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to email us at [email protected] and visit camh.ca/neighbours for future updates.