When Patrick Topping walks the South Niagara Hospital construction site, he sees more than a building rising from the ground. He sees the future of healthcare in Niagara. As Director of Transaction and Construction with Niagara Health, Topping plays a pivotal role in bringing the region's long-awaited hospital project to life, guiding a complex undertaking that will shape patient care for generations.
“Opportunities like this don’t come along often,” says Topping of the South Niagara Hospital Project. “We’re building a hospital that will serve our community for the next 100 years, and it’s incredibly meaningful to play a role in something with that kind of lasting impact.”
Born and raised in Niagara Falls, Topping has spent his entire career working in the region, beginning as an electrician and steadily progressing from the trades to project leadership roles on some of Niagara's most significant redevelopment projects. Over five and a half years at Niagara Parks, he helped oversee major capital redevelopments projects, including the Niagara Parks Power Station and the Table Rock Centre redevelopment. While those projects were exciting and impactful, he notes that the scale of the South Niagara Hospital project and its community impact are what attracted him to the opportunity.
"This is the community where I live, where my parents live and where my children are growing up. To have the chance to contribute to something that will directly improve hospital care for my family, and for families across Niagara, was incredibly exciting,” he says.
Topping joined the South Niagara Hospital project team more than five years ago as a Senior Project Specialist. Within a year, he advanced to Senior Project Manager before moving into his current role as Director of Transaction and Construction.
"This is the community where I live, where my parents live and where my children are growing up. To have the chance to contribute to something that will directly improve hospital care for my family, and for families across Niagara, was incredibly exciting."
Supported by a team of project managers who provide oversight across many aspects of the project including construction progress, contract management, scheduling and commissioning activities, Topping’s role requires a broad understanding of the project and its progress to help keep things moving forward.
"Every part of the project is connected," he explains. "If one piece falls behind, everything that follows can be affected. My job is to maintain visibility across the project, support the team and make sure everything is staying on schedule.”
As construction progresses, with the exterior of the building nearly complete and the interior work progressing, Topping says the focus is increasingly shifting to commissioning, the process of ensuring the hospital's systems and equipment are tested, integrated and functioning as intended.
"Building the structure is the part of the journey that most people can see, but the real challenge is making sure every system works together seamlessly,” he says. “Commissioning requires everyone to be aligned and working toward the same outcome, and that's what will ultimately ensure a safe and fully operational hospital is delivered."
Topping credits collaboration and the positive partnership with EllisDon as one of the reasons the project has advanced with such success. He and his team work closely with all project partners to navigate the challenges and complexities that come with delivering a hospital of this magnitude.
"Communication is everything on a project this size. Strong relationships build trust, and trust helps teams solve problems together. We've developed a great partnership with EllisDon because everyone wants to see the successful completion of the project, and that keeps us moving forward.”
While the work is demanding, Topping remains mindful of the unique opportunity the project represents.
"I feel privileged to be part of something this impactful," he says. "On the challenging days, I remember that not everyone gets the opportunity to help build something that will make such a lasting difference in the community."
"Communication is everything on a project this size. Strong relationships build trust, and trust helps teams solve problems together."
Three construction milestones to watch for
Permanent power on | November 2026
Permanent power will be connected to the building, marking a major project milestone. This transition from temporary construction power to permanent utility power will enable the progression of commissioning activities across the facility. It is a critical step toward building readiness.
Removal of the worker and material hoists | Early 2027
The removal the five worker and material hoists, located in two different areas of the building, represents one of the final steps in fully enclosing the building exterior. Once removed, crews can finish the installation of the remaining precast and siding panels, making the building fully weathertight and giving the building its final look.
The building lights up | Summer 2027
One of the most exciting visual milestones will be seeing the building illuminated with its permanent lighting systems for the first time. Unlike the temporary construction lighting visible today, the completed lighting design will showcase the facility's full architectural presence and create a striking nighttime landmark that will be visible for miles.
Read this article and more in the October issue of the Project Newsletter
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