Healthcare

Carolinas HealthCare System has initiated construction on the 190,000-sf Morehead Medical Plaza. Designed by RTKL of Chicago, the master plan calls for a state-of-the-art outpatient medical campus on a 12-acre site adjacent to Carolina Medical Center in Charlotte. The 6-story medical office building, housing specialty clinics as well as independent physician offices, will be the anchor of the new outpatient care campus. A second outpatient facility will be developed in the future across the landscaped plaza.

The Bascom Palmer Eye Institute is planning to construct a 35,000-sf patient care facility and adjacent 10,000-sf surgical center in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. The project will triple research, patient care, and educational space for the eye institute, which is a unit of the University of Miami's Miller School of Medicine. The facility will accommodate over 90,000 patient visits annually.

Memorial Hospital West has completed a $25-million expansion of its Pembroke Pines, Fla., campus. The project included the creation of a cardiovascular intervention suite, expansion of endoscopy operations from three to five rooms, and the expansion of a surgical sterile processing area. Additionally, pre- and post-procedure areas were combined into one 51-bed unit that acts as a holding area for patients in the morning and a recovery room in the afternoon.

Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) is constructing Building One in Portland, Ore. The 400,000-sf, $145-million facility will house research laboratories, classrooms, outpatient practices, and a wellness center. Slated to open in mid-2006, the 16-story facility will be linked to the main OHSU campus by an overhead tram.

Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanente is planning to break ground in spring of 2005 on a 166-bed medical center in Vacaville, Calif. The 340,000-sf facility is expected to cost between $200 million and $250 million. Slated for occupancy in 2009, the development will include a 271,000-sf medical office building, an ER, eight labor and delivery rooms, expanded pharmacy and lab services, and parking for 2,300 cars.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is planning to break ground in mid-2005 on a new seven-story cancer hospital. The facility, slated to open in 2009, will house clinical cancer programs for the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and the UNC Health Care System. Designed by Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Partnership, the project will also include a physician's office building. The construction manager is Skanska USA Building Inc.

Christus St. Catherine Hospital is engaged in a $45 million expansion that will increase inpatient bed count from 60 to 100. Designed by the Houston office of Perkins + Will, the 50,000-sf project is slated for completion by spring 2007. The expansion will more than double emergency room bed count from 9 to 20. Additionally, Christus St. Catherine is currently constructing an 80,000-sf outpatient surgery center and medical office building on its South Fry Road campus.

Atlanticare will break ground in September 2005 on a $98 million expansion and renovation of Atlanticare Regional Medical Center in Atlantic City, N.J. Including the construction of a 198,000-sf, seven-story tower adjacent to the existing hospital, the project will also feature a new intensive care unit with 26 private rooms, a new radiology department, emergency department, helipad, and two medical/surgical floors housing 30 private patient suites each. Completion is slated for 2008.

Southwest Washington Medical Center began construction in January 2005 on a new 359-space parking structure on its Vancouver campus. In April construction will begin on a 307,000-sf, $146 million patient care building. The eight-story facility will include 15 new surgery suites, 154 private patient rooms, and a dedicated heart and vascular health center. Completion is expected in December 2006.

The Palo Alto Medical Foundation has awarded architectural firm NBBJ the contract to design its new 110-bed medical center in San Carlos, Calif. The $300 million facility is expected to reach completion by 2011

Shriners' Hospital for Children in Mexico City is now 73 pecent complete. Constructed by Beck, the 311,000-sf facility consists of three storeis and a basement housing 80 pediatric and four critical care beds.

St. Joseph's Hospital is planning a $70-million expansion of its existing 400,000-sf, three-building campus in downtown St. Paul. Project plans describe the construction of a five-story, 171,000-sf facility that will house an outpatient clinic, heart center, neurovascular institute, and helicopter landing pad. Two additional floors may be constructed in the future to accommodate growth.

Camino Medical Group is planning to construct a 250,000-sf outpatient medical center on nine acres in Mountain View, Calif. In January 2005, the closed Emporium department store that occupies the site will be razed and construction will begin. Completion is expected in 2007. The three-story center will house medical offices, an outpatient surgery center, labs, diagnostic radiology, and a pharmacy.

Community Hospital North, part of Indiana's Community Health Network, has awarded the design contract for its new 850,000-sf expansion in Indianapolis to the Dallas office of RTKL. Groundbreaking was held recently for the $170-million construction project, which is expected to reach completion in early 2007.

The Wyandot Center for Community Behaivoral Healthcare broke ground on December 3, 2004, on a new 39,000-sf mental health facility in Kansas City, Kan. The $6-million center is sited on 17 acres and will act as the county's designated mental health facility. Completion is expected in early 2006. The Eby Group of Olathe is the project coordinator.