“This will complete the original master facility plan that the County Board approved in 2007 when we recognized the need to update medical center facilities,” said Mike Opat, chair of the Hennepin County Board and member of the health care system’s board of directors, in a statement. “The rest of the original plan, including replacing all of the intensive care units in the hospital and opening the Whittier Clinic, has been completed. Now it’s time to address the need for a new clinic and specialty center downtown.”

The plans were prompted by a recent study that suggested the current medical facilities would not be able to support the growing community by 2017. The newest buildings currently at the medical center were built in the 1970s. The aging buildings are also spread across nine different buildings. The new expansion will unify services to benefit both patients and medical staff.

“This will be a centerpiece of our downtown campus and, more importantly, enable us to provide quality care to our current and expanding patient base efficiently and effectively,” said Sharon Sayles Belton, chair of the Hennepin Healthcare System’s board of directors, in a statement. “HCMC has been a good neighbor, major employer, and community partner in the Elliot Park neighborhood for more than 40 years, and with this project, we will participate in the continued transformation of the east side of downtown Minneapolis.”

The new building will be in close proximity to the Wells Fargo office and residential development that will break ground in May and the new Vikings stadium that will open in 2016. The expansion is set to better accommodate the burgeoning downtown.

“Our hospital and clinic system today has all of the services and specialties to provide care to people who live and work downtown, but we lack the convenience of having that care centralized and accessible for people who need a quick visit to their doctor, with close parking and skyway access,” said Scott Wordelman, vice president of ambulatory care, in a statement. “Our specialty services in the new building will be convenient if you are coming from outside of downtown, and will feature the kind of care, access and amenities that will make it an exceptional experience for our patients. With the recent growth of our neighborhood clinic system in Minneapolis and suburban Hennepin County, we are seeing more patients come downtown for specialty care and this new facility will serve them well.”

The project is expected to debut in 2016.

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“The board approving this renovation and expansion recognizes that, as the Houston region’s only full-service health system, we must be prepared to stay ahead of the fast-growing advances in medicine, keep pace with the extraordinary growth of our medical staff and meet the health needs of our community,” said Dan Wolterman, president and CEO of Memorial Hermann Health System, in a statement. “When completed, the Memorial Hermann-TMC Master Plan will enhance our ability to provide the highest-quality and safest health care for our community for many decades to come.”

The expansion will add 1.34 million square feet of space, expand the capacity by 160 beds, replace 71 beds, 24 new operating rooms, 16 additional emergency room bays and add a 333-seat café. Additionally, a new parking structure will create 750 new parking spaces.

“We recognize that our community will continue to grow and so will their health needs, so we’re designing the building with a forward-looking perspective to meet those needs,” Wolterman said.

In order to plan for future growth, six shelled floors and six shelled operating rooms will be constructed to accommodate future growth with the potential of adding 264 beds.

“Our buildings tell a remarkable story about our history, but it is our employees who truly define our legacy,” said Craig Cordola, CEO of Memorial Hermann-TMC. “With this expansion, we are building towards our future and investing in our people. It gives me great pride to be a part of this seminal moment in our hospital and system’s history.”

Construction is expected to begin this summer and be completed in 2018.

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“The board approving this renovation and expansion recognizes that, as the Houston region’s only full-service health system, we must be prepared to stay ahead of the fast-growing advances in medicine, keep pace with the extraordinary growth of our medical staff and meet the health needs of our community,” said Dan Wolterman, president and CEO of Memorial Hermann Health System, in a statement. “When completed, the Memorial Hermann-TMC Master Plan will enhance our ability to provide the highest-quality and safest health care for our community for many decades to come.”

Construction on the master plan is expected to begin this summer with locally based WHR Architects Inc. serving as the architect of record for the project.

The new master plan is a continuation of the growth that has been taking place on the health campus in the past year. In 2013, the hospital board approved $50 million to address the short-term needs of the health care campus to better accommodate the growing patient population. The approved projects include a new observation unit, expanding the post-acute care unit and building out new inpatient beds and operating rooms.

“We recognize that our community will continue to grow and so will their health needs, so we’re designing the building with a forward-looking perspective to meet those needs,” Wolterman said.

The master plan will include the construction of a patient care building as well as a building that will include parking and additional space to support future growth. The expansion also will provide the campus with an additional 1.34 million square feet, an extra 160 beds, 71 replacement beds, 24 new operating rooms, 16 additional emergency room bays, 750 parking space and a 333-seat café. Additionally, six shelled floors and six shelled operating rooms will be constructed to accommodate future growth with the potential of adding 264 beds.

“Our buildings tell a remarkable story about our history, but it is our employees who truly define our legacy,” said Craig Cordola, CEO of Memorial Hermann-TMC. “With this expansion, we are building towards our future and investing in our people. It gives me great pride to be a part of this seminal moment in our hospital and system’s history.”

The hospital is also placing focus on recruiting up-and-coming physicians and innovators in the medical field. The hospital’s partnership with the University of Texas Medical School at Austin has recruited exceptional clinicians and has allowed the hospital to expand its services, Cordola said.

Cordola added that throughout construction patients will continue to be provided with high quality care.

“We are excited about our growth and future,” Cordola said. “But I want to assure our patients and the community that Memorial Hermann-TMC will continue to meet their needs now without disruption as we prepare to meet their needs in the future.

Construction on the project is expected to be completed in 2018.

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“This will complete the original master facility plan that the County Board approved in 2007 when we recognized the need to update medical center facilities,” said Mike Opat, chair of the Hennepin County Board and member of the health care system’s board of directors, in a statement. “The rest of the original plan, including replacing all of the intensive care units in the hospital and opening the Whittier Clinic, has been completed. Now it’s time to address the need for a new clinic and specialty center downtown.”

The plans were prompted by a recent study that suggested the current medical facilities would not be able to support the growing community by 2017. The newest buildings currently at the medical center were in built in the 1970s. The aging buildings are also spread across nine different buildings. The new expansion will unify services to benefit both patients and medical staff.

“This will be a centerpiece of our downtown campus and, more importantly, enable us to provide quality care to our current and expanding patient base efficiently and effectively,” said Sharon Sayles Belton, chair of the Hennepin Healthcare System’s board of directors, in a statement. “HCMC has been a good neighbor, major employer, and community partner in the Elliot Park neighborhood for more than 40 years and with this project we will participate in the continued transformation of the east side of downtown Minneapolis.”

The new building will be in close proximity to the Wells Fargo office and residential development that will break ground in May and the new Vikings stadium that will open in 2016. The expansion is set to better accommodate the burgeoning downtown.

“Our hospital and clinic system today has all of the services and specialties to provide care to people who live and work downtown, but we lack the convenience of having that care centralized and accessible for people who need a quick visit to their doctor, with close parking and skyway access,” said Scott Wordelman, vice president of ambulatory care, in a statement. “Our specialty services in the new building will be convenient if you are coming from outside of downtown, and will feature the kind of care, access, and amenities that will make it an exceptional experience for our patients. With the recent growth of our neighborhood clinic system in Minneapolis and suburban Hennepin County, we are seeing more patients come downtown for specialty care and this new facility will serve them well.”

The project is expected to open in 2016.

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"University of Missouri Health Care is proud that our patient care tower has achieved LEED Gold certification," said Mitch Wasden, chief executive officer and chief operating officer of MU Health Care, in a statement. "This recognition demonstrates our commitment to providing patient and family-centered care in a healing environment, as well as our dedication to our community by being good stewards of the environment."

The tower includes six operating rooms, 25 pre-procedure rooms, 18 post-procedure rooms, 90 private patient rooms with smart room technology, a 7,000-square-foot inpatient pharmacy with robotics to automatically dispense medications, an 1,800-square-foot lounge for families of surgery patients and a new facility for Ellis Fischel Cancer Center outpatient services.

The north-south orientation of the patient tower maximizes scenic views and connections to nature, providing views to Missouri farmland. Additionally, more than 100,000 square feet of roof gardens are located on the north and south sides of the building. The 3,150-square-foot Brown Family Healing Garden, specifically designed to reduce stress in patients and staff, is visible from all floors and serves as a crossroads between the new tower and the main hospital.

"Medical research has shown that patients benefit from a healing environment that provides a comfortable environment with natural light and a connection to nature," said Paul Dale, chief of surgical oncology at Ellis Fischel Cancer Center and medical director of Ellis Fischel, in a statement. "Our achieving LEED Gold certification is a testament to our efforts to provide our patients with a state-of-the-art facility that puts our patients at the center of everything we do."

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The addition, which will break ground in either late summer or early fall, will increase patient beds by 10 percent and create much needed space. A recent facility assessment demonstrated a need for approximately 20 percent more space on the health care campus, according to Jon Ness, CEO of Kootenai Health.

“Seeing more patients and receiving more referrals from other communities are good indicators that our strategic plan to be a comprehensive, regional medical center is on target,” Ness said.

The first floor of the new building will include a family birthing center, neonatal intensive care unit, lobby and registration area, and expanded waiting area on the first floor. The second floor will serve medical and surgical patients, and the third floor is designed for future growth needs.

“Now is a great time for us to expand,” said Jeremy Evans, vice president of operations with Kootenai Health, in a statement. “We continue to see more and more patients, current interest rates are favorable and construction costs and worker availability are also good. Additionally, other improvements needed in our existing facility hinge on this expansion. Together, these make this an ideal time to expand.”

The project will provide a boost to the local economy with the creation of 400 to 450 construction jobs. Additionally, the project will be funded through donations and loans. A local tax increase is not expected at this time.

The expansion, to be constructed by Bouten Construction Company of Spokane, Wash., may become a part of a larger five-year revitalization of the health care campus. A three-phase expansion may be in the hospital’s future, Ness said, with a second phase possibly beginning in 2016.

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Situated on a 4.4-acre site, the new building will relieve overcrowding at the hospital and nearly quintuple the size of neonatal intensive care space from approximately 7,700 square feet to 36,600 square feet. The pediatric care unit will also triple in size and family education, living spaces and waiting areas, and an expanded play room will also be added. Overall, the neonatal and intensive care space at the new tower will add several private rooms and expand space from just 10,000 square feet to 50,000 square feet. The tower and master plan are led by HDR Inc, headquartered in Omaha, Neb.

While the building will hold great meaning to the medical center, which is in desperate need for additional and updated medical spaces, the design features symbolism derived from the Hawaiian culture and landscape, according to Jim Hohenstein, AIA, senior vice president at HDR Inc.

“Because much of the money to build the original Kapio’lani Maternity Hospital was raised through celebrations and luaus to create a link with the past, the new KMCWC was design to celebrate the natural features of the Aloha State and its people,” Hohenstein said. “The use of indigenous Hawaiian materials is meant to lend a familiarity to the families and patient that will use the facility. The use of symbols and imagery will pay homage to the island’s people, customs and traditions.”

The rock, ocean and landscape are integral to the Hawaiian environment and serve as metaphors for birth, life and health, Hohenstein said. The design expounds on this metaphor through various design details and features.

“The overall folded plate of the building exterior represents a seashell and the protective environment it provides for the living form inside, much as the hospital will do for its patients,” Hohenstein said. “The placing of the lei over a person’s head is a traditional Hawaiian greeting, so all who enter the facility will receive this spirit of aloha. An open lei built of simulated wood panels surrounds the front door for all to pass through.”

In undertaking the massive master plan, Hohenstein said he took away from the project the importance of remaining flexible and open-minded during the planning phases.

“This project took two major master planning efforts with numerous smaller iterations over a seven-year period before actual hospital construction took place,” he said. “HDR remained flexible and open to new ideas whenever the client’s criteria changed and we were therefore able to adjust a move with the punches. Locking in too early on master plan concepts and not being able to back off and take another look would have been detrimental.”

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“This is exciting news for our patients and their families as well as physicians, nurses and staff. The new surgical building will keep patients closer to home by enabling our LGH surgeons to perform more complicated procedures locally. Our patients will also have additional private, modern patient rooms which will promote a healing environment,” said Dianne Anderson, president and CEO of Lawrence General Hospital, in a statement. “We know this significant strategic investment will further enhance the quality of care provided to our patients. We will be well positioned to provide future health care needs of the communities we serve right here in the Merrimack Valley.”

The new multiyear master plan, which was developed after four years of planning, will significantly modernize hospital facilities. A $55 million, 42,000-square-foot surgical building will bring new preoperative and postoperative space and state-of-the-art operating rooms. A number of operating rooms at the current hospital are more than 50 years old, according to hospital officials. Additionally, approximately 26,000 square feet of inpatient renovations will increase private rooms, family space and waiting areas.

“We are extremely proud of our long history in serving the Merrimack Valley region and all we have accomplished recently, but we are even more excited about the hospital’s future,” said Matthew Caffrey, chairman of the Lawrence General Hospital Board of Trustees, in a statement. “As one of the fastest growing hospitals in Massachusetts, we are thrilled to be building on our emerging role as an important medical center and resource for the region. We believe we are the preeminent regional health system our communities deserve.”

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Los Angeles-based CO Architects is serving as architect and Hensel Phelps, headquartered in Greeley, Colo., is heading construction on the $900 million project. Built on a 19-acre site, the 565,000-square-foot facility will be a partial replacement for the San Diego Medical Center and provide the growing community with the health care space it needs. The project includes a 321-bed hospital, which will have the ability to expand by an additional 129 beds, a central plant, hospital support building and an expandable parking structure. All rooms at the hospital will be private.

The health care facility will include an emergency department, operating rooms, recovery spaces, pharmacies, a gourmet cafeteria, a laboratory and a blood bank, as well as support spaces such as administrative offices and conference rooms. To create a tranquil healing space for patients and visitors, a half-mile walking trail and a wrap-around healing garden will also be made available.

“Kaiser Permanente’s new central hospital will be a high-tech hospital of the future,” said Mary Ann Barnes, senior vice president and executive director for Kaiser Permanente San Diego, in a statement. “From green design to the latest technology, it will have all the tools to provide our members with the highest quality care in a beautiful, healing and nurturing environment.”

The new hospital will have several sustainable features and aim for LEED Gold certification. The facility will use solar panels on the campus’ parking garage, thermal insulation, chilled beams and LED light fixtures throughout to reduce energy demands. The facility will also employ rainwater utilization and waste recycling systems, and place focus on using locally produced materials for both construction and landscaping.

Technology that will be utilized at the hospital includes video conferencing, touch screens in patient rooms and surgical robots.

The project is aiming for a 2017 completion date.

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Renderings were unveiled for the five-story building, which will include a 44-bed, private room Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), a new perioperative surgery center and enhanced family areas.

“As pediatric medicine continues to evolve, so does our standard of care,” said Keith Goodwin, president and CEO of ETCH, in a statement. “This will allow the hospital to continue to provide the highest level of care to our region’s children. The project is about acknowledging the importance of families in the care we provide, improving the efficiency of care and ensuring that we have the opportunity to accommodate future growth.”

The much needed space will allow ETCH to better care for their patients, according to officials. The expansion will provide more space to treat children with chronic conditions such as cystic fibrosis and other special needs, and the advanced NICU will create an advanced health care facility to provide the best possible care for infants.

“We currently have an undersized NICU and surgery suites,” Goodwin said in a statement. “This building will give us the opportunity to build state-of-the-art operating rooms, anticipate emerging technology, as well as providing an even better experience for our patients and families.”

Enhanced family care spaces, such as rooftop gardens, were also integrated into the design to create a calming atmosphere for families to visit and heal.

The hospital has already provided approximately $60 million in funding for the project. About $9 million has been provided by private donors and the hospital is now fundraising to fill the remaining $6 million gap.

The 245,000-square-foot expansion, which will take approximately two years to construct, is set to break ground in late August. Additional renovations to the hospital are expected to complete in 2017.

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