From Single Retrofit to
System-Wide Intelligence
How GDI Ainsworth supported Vancouver General Hospital’s evolving building systems for over 25-years without disrupting care
Project Details
Location
Vancouver, Canada
Number of Buildings
5
System Implemented
Delta Controls–based Building Management System (BMS), including HVAC, lighting, fire alarm monitoring, airflow and smoke damper control, and system upgrades (V2 to V3, Triteck controllers)
Project Goal
Continuously modernize and expand building systems while maintaining full hospital operations and prioritizing patient comfort
Project Duration
Ongoing since 1987 (over 25 years)
Impact at a Glance
Supported a 25+ year client partnership with one of Canada’s largest hospitals
Delivered 35,000+ BMS data points across five buildings
Completed system upgrades and retrofits with little to no downtime in a fully occupied hospital
Enabled continuous modernization of HVAC, lighting, and life-safety systems
Challenge
Vancouver General Hospital is the largest hospital in Metro Vancouver and operates 24/7 with no tolerance for system downtime. What began as a single retrofit project expanded over time into a highly complex, multi-building BMS environment with more than 500 zones and over 40 panels. Each upgrade, retrofit, or new installation came with unique scopes, compressed timelines, and the critical requirement that patient comfort and safety never be compromised.
Methodology
Adopted a long-term, relationship-driven approach to support ongoing system evolution at a fully operational hospital
Phased upgrades and retrofits to minimize disruption and avoid downtime in occupied clinical spaces
Executed system enhancements incrementally while maintaining live operations
Maintained close collaboration with hospital facilities teams to align schedules, priorities, and safety requirements
Planned and delivered projects with patient comfort and life-safety considerations as top priorities
Solution
Retrofit of legacy pneumatic control systems
Design and implementation of a centralized BMS for hospital-wide monitoring
Integration of fire alarm monitoring with airflow and smoke damper control
Deployment of Delta Controls platforms across multiple system generations
Execution of V2 to V3 Delta system upgrades
Installation of Triteck controllers for advanced system integration
Expansion from a single project to over 40 panels and 500 zones
Installation of 35,000+ BMS data points across HVAC and lighting systems
Continuous system upgrades to maintain performance, safety, and reliability
Careful scheduling and execution to ensure zero disruption to patient care
The Ripple Effect
Strengthened a long-term partnership built on trust, technical excellence, and reliability
Provided a scalable BMS foundation capable of supporting future expansions and technology upgrades
