Hospital project on track

Thursday, July 16, 2009
A bird's eye view of Community Hospital's building project, looking northeast, with the current main entrance at top right. (Community Hospital graphic)

Community Hospital is on track to begin construction of a new patient wing and surgery addition, president and CEO Jim Ulrich said Wednesday.

"We're very proud of the input obtained during the plan development process from the staff, medical staff and public," Ulrich told the Gazette. Officials should be able to sign off on the design development about Aug. 12, with final blueprints to be prepared after that.

Next is development of a "guaranteed maximum price" by the hospital's construction manager to be approved by the hospital board, and preliminary earthwork should begin west of the current "pod" patient rooms in September, with more extensive work to follow in October.

The project will include about 50,000 square foot of new construction as well as the demolition of about 25,000 square feet of current space, and cost about $23.5 million. This construction cost will also include replacement of boilers, air handlers and related mechanical equipment in the existing facility. Equipment for the new construction areas, construction interest, architect and engineering fees, and other owner related costs will bring the total closer to $30 million, Ulrich said.

While official approval has not been received, the project has been given the green light from the USDA, which will provide about half the funding for the project, with the majority of the rest coming from local and area bank loans, to be guaranteed by USDA after construction. The remaining project costs will be funded through hospital cash reserves.

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