The Blusson Spinal Cord Centre
About the Blusson Spinal Cord Centre
The Blusson Spinal Cord Centre is a unique facility dedicated to advancing world-leading integrated research and care for people with spinal cord injury. By combining research and clinical space in the same building, investigators will be able to rapidly translate discoveries into validated clinical practices to ensure effective outcomes are achieved. The Blusson Spinal Cord Centre is home to ICORD, the outpatient and research clinics of Vancouver Coastal Health’s Spine and Spinal Programs, and the Rick Hansen Institute offices.
Design
The Blusson Spinal Cord Centre was designed by Vancouver Architects Musson Cattel Mackey Partnership in consultation with ICORD’s researchers. Ledcor was the general contractor and Stantec provided project management. It was designed to be as accessible as possible for people with a physical disability.
Every effort was made to assure that the wheelchair access sign is not necessary inside the building. For example, all elevators and washrooms are specially designed to be highly accessible.
The unique ramp in the atrium is about 200 metres long with a 5% incline. Every 5 metres, there is level place on the ramp. The City of Vancouver has mandated that all new buildings in Vancouver have expressions of colour visible from the exterior, so colour was added to the glass surrounding the ramp. The sequence of colours was designed by Mark Whitehead, one of the architects of the building. It is a progression of colours interrupted by their complimentary colours. The clear panels appear where the ramp is level.
the ramp
