ACO London Region successfully defended the former Western University Medical School, the first hospital to treat cancer with the Canadian-invented cobalt bomb (Oct 27, 1951) and, in the 1960s, a pioneer in the provision of kidney dialysis in Canada. Cultural Heritage Assessment recommends: The entire streetscape along the north side of South Street between Colborne Street and Waterloo Street be conserved.

The War Memorial Children’s Hospital (a memorial to the fallen of WWI; built 1922) and the Victoria Health Services building (former Western University Medical School building; delayed in 1917 by the First World War, completed 1921) form a distinctive pairing of the former Victoria Hospital campus, complemented by their shared scale, materials, and setback, as well as the soon to be repurposed Colborne building on the opposite side of South Street. The Medical School building located to the west retains important institutional-styled neoclassical architectural detailing with subtle Art Deco influences. The building was designed to be a state-of-the-art training and research facility, with large windows and skylights.

Threats:
Owned by the City of London and listed for sale under the Old Victoria Hospital Lands Secondary Plan that will guide their future repurposing. Both buildings vacant for many years. Maintenance to these structures has dwindled over the past 35+ years since the decision was made to move Victoria Hospital to its present site.

Recommendations:
These buildings offer many adaptive reuse options, based not only on their significant size, but also considering their prime location in the SOHO (South of Horton) neighbourhood, with quick access to the river, downtown London, and a central thoroughfare, Wellington Rd. These buildings could offer a unique condo apartment complex, offering a distinctively heritage minded development. Resources for the community could involve incubator space, community kitchens, dance studios, theatre space, or satellite office space.

Feb 24, 2021
The Vision SoHo Alliance, of six nonprofit housing developers announced its commitment to purchase the vacant Old Victoria Hospital Lands “to develop a vibrant mixed-use housing complex that will help increase the supply of affordable housing in our community."