Healthcare

Central Montgomery Medical Center broke ground in early February 2003 on a $2-million emergency department renovation. Relocating and doubling the size of the existing department, the project will create 21 private rooms and is slated for completion in 2003. Central Montgomery Medical Center, owned by King of Prussia-based Universal Health Services, is also planning a new $8-million medical office building that will connect to the hospital, to begin construction in late 2003 and reach completion mid-2004.

The Ohio State University Medical Center will initiate construction on a 44,000-sf expansion of the Comprehensive Cancer Center in February 2003. The project is a vertical expansion of  the 3rd and 4th floors on top of Wiseman Hall, creating additional space for research and supporting the growing Human Cancer Genetics programs.

South Texas Medical Center is constructing the Rosewood Building in San Antonio, a new three-story medical office facility featuring approximately 45,000 sf of leased space. Slated for completion in June 2003, the Rosewood building will include a conference room, event center, patio, and catering kitchen. The medical offices will accommodate doctors, imaging facilities, plastic surgeons, and cardiologists.

The District of Columbia Department of Health will distribute $8 million from a federal terrorism response fund to members of the D.C. Hospital Association. Hospitals receiving funding include George Washington University Hospital, which will receive approximately $800,000 to expand the facility's decontamination unit and implement improved biohazard training procedures.

Charlotte, N.C.-based OrthoNeuro Corp. is creating its first specialty hospital in Austin. OrthoNeuro is redeveloping the former Renaissance Women's Center into the Austin Surgical Hospital, slated to open in spring of 2003. The renovation includes 50,000 sf of the four-year-old facility, adding six operating rooms, two procedure rooms, 25 inpatient rooms, and an intensive care unit. A rehabilitation center, an expanded imaging department, and a clinical laboratory will enable the hospital to provide various ancillary services.

Montgomery Hospital Medical Center is planning a 3,000-sf expansion of its emergency department and the renovation of 4,000 sf of existing space. The project, funded by a $1-million grant from the Abramson Family Foundation, will create a technologically advanced, state-of-the-art emergency department. The hospital plans to invest more than $2-million in the improvements. Construction will begin in early 2003 on a new waiting area, a new emergency room entrance, and additional treatment rooms.

Loudoun Hospital Center opened its new Birthing Inn in January 2003. The 30,000-sf facility, located at the rear of the hospital, took nine months to construct. The birth center houses nine labor/delivery/recovery rooms, 24 postpartum suites, two operating rooms, two recovery rooms, and four triage posts.

Community Hospital of Los Gatos is planning an $85-million expansion that will include medical office space, an oncology radiology center, a new emergency department, and four additional operating rooms. The project will also feature a three-story inpatient care facility and a remodeled cafeteria and lobby. The expansion will increase the 150,000-sf hospital to 292,500-sf.

Johnston Memorial Hospital is redeveloping a former Burlington Industries textile mill in Smithfield as a medical mall. Sited on 15 acres adjacent to the hospital, the 240,000-sf property will feature a 27,000-sf wellness center with two indoor pools and a cyber-cafe. The $13.5-million project will also include physician offices and an auditorium. The original building was constructed in approximately 1912.

The nonprofit Piedmont Hospital will relocate administrative operations including accounts payable, financial services, and materials management to 48,400 sf of leased space at the One and Two Paces West complex in Atlanta.

Washington Hospital has earmarked $150,000 to build a skills training laboratory for nursing students on the hospital's campus in Fremont. The facility will house 12 beds and feature leading-edge medical technology.

Northside Hospital in Atlanta plans to begin construction on a five-story medical office facility in summer of 2003. The tower will be constructed atop an existing parking facility. Northside is also seeking state approval to build a $10.7-million, 1,000-car parking deck adjacent to its women's center. The hospital hopes to initiate construction on the nine-level parking deck in March 2003 and reach completion in early 2004.

Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh is planning to construct a new $500-million hospital and pediatric research facility on the site of the now-closed St. Francis Medical Center campus in Lawrenceville, Penn. Designed by L.D. Astorino Cos., the project is slated for completion in 2007. An inpatient tower, pediatric research facility, ambulatory care center, and parking garage are included in the project.

Carolinas HealthCare System is planning a $70-million expansion of Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, the system's flagship hospital. The project will add four floors to the top of the existing surgery tower and will include major expansion of the Surgical Intensive Care Unit, the Trauma Intensive Care Unit, and the Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit.

Columbia St. Mary's is planning to break ground on its new Lake Drive Campus hospital facility in Spring 2004. Sited where the present St. Mary's hospital now stands, the facility is slated for occupancy in 2009. Lead architect for the project is Hellmuth Obata + Kassabaum (HOK) with Kahler Slater and Plunkett Rayisch Architects providing architectural support during construction.