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 as well Vancouver Coastal Health’s Brenda & David McLean Integrated Spine Clinic and the Rick Hansen Institute offices. Click here to download an information sheet about the building and the groups that work here.
The Blusson Spinal Cord Centre
Visiting the Blusson Spinal Cord Centre
The Blusson Spinal Cord Centre is located at 818 West 10th Avenue in Vancouver, BC (see below for map). For additional information, please visit Contact Us. If you are visiting (either as a patient of the Brenda & David McLean Integrated Spine Clinic, a research participant, etc), please consult to Parking at the Blusson Spinal Cord Centre for parking information.
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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. Approximately every 10 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. For more information on the accessible features of the Blusson Spinal Cord Centre, click here.
