The Cowichan District Hospital Replacement Project – recently named Quw'utsun Valley Hospital / Quw'utsun Hulitun-ew't-hw – has been selected as the Gold Level winner of the 2026 Touchstone Award from the Center for Health Design. Touchstone Awards recognize exceptional achievement in applying Evidence-Based Design (EBD) principles.
Evidence-Based Design uses credible research to help guide decisions that improve patient outcomes, staff experiences and system sustainability.
“This award recognizes the thoughtful work to design a patient centred hospital that will deliver better healthcare to people in our community,” said Debra Toporowski, MLA for Cowichan Valley. “The design of the new Quw'utsun Valley Hospital reflects the needs, voices, and experiences of the people who will use it every day, creating safer, more supportive spaces for patients and staff for generations to come.”
The hospital is designed to improve quality, safety and patient experience while making daily operations more efficient.
Examples include:
- Patient Safety: Design elements that aim to reduce patient falls, including more space on both sides of toilets to allow staff to assist patients, positioning fixtures to minimize turning movements and providing clear pathways between patient beds and the washrooms, to reduce tripping hazards and promote independence.
- Staff Safety: Strategically positioning departments within the hospital to reduce distances that staff need to push equipment, including minimizing the number of turns, particularly for Food Service and Equipment Depot staff.
- Infection Prevention and Control:
- Single patient rooms: 80 per cent of rooms are private to reduce the spread of pathogens between patients.
- Curtainless design: Wipeable privacy screens replace traditional fabric curtains to reduce the transmission of germs and improve safety during cleaning; and
- Automated UV-C disinfection lights in high-traffic washrooms provide an added layer of protection by neutralizing harmful bacteria and viruses between patient use
- Standardization: Standardizing 24 room types to create predictable environments with an aim to reduce training time and cognitive load, streamline operations and enhance staff efficiency. Based on an understanding of current research and future workflows, the goal is to support intuitive workflows and minimize the risk of error.
The project was recognized for its alignment of vision, goals and objectives with EBD principles, strong research foundations and robust plans for future post‑occupancy evaluation and knowledge sharing.
The Touchstone Award will be formally presented at the International Summit & Exhibition on Health Facility Planning, Design & Construction on March 10, 2026. Parkin Architects will be accepting the award on behalf of the Nuts'a'maat Alliance, which includes Island Health, EllisDon Corporation, Parkin Architects, Infrastructure BC and BC Infrastructure Benefits.
What people are saying:
Leah Hollins, Island Health Board Chair:
“Receiving the Gold Touchstone Award affirms the values that guide Island Health. Quw'utsun Valley Hospital / Quw’utsun Hulitun-ew't-hw reflects our commitment to putting people first. With safety at the centre, this project supports high quality care for patients and families and strengthens the wellbeing and experience of our healthcare teams. This thoughtful, forward-looking design will help build a sustainable system and make a meaningful difference for patients, staff, volunteers and the communities we are honoured to serve.”
Westley Davidson, Chief Project Officer, Nuts'a'maat Alliance:
“We are grateful for the strong collaboration across our project Alliance. By grounding our work in world‑class research – and bringing together clinicians, staff, local Nation leaders and patient partners – we are shaping a hospital that truly reflects the needs, values and strengths of Cowichan communities. Together, we are creating a safer, more responsive care environments that will benefit patients and healthcare professionals for many generations.”
Kyle Basilius, Principal, Parkin Architects:
“This award is meaningful because it recognizes more than good intentions. It recognizes measurable impact. At Quw'utsun Valley Hospital, evidence-based design shaped how we approached patient safety, staff well-being, infection prevention and operational safety through standardization in tangible ways. What truly defines this project, however, is the collaboration behind it. The trust built with Island Health, local Nations, clinicians and patient partners created a hospital that reflects the values and identity of the Cowichan community. We are proud to accept this award on behalf of the Nuts'a'maat Alliance and are committed to sharing what we learn so this work continues to improve care environments across Canada.”