Grant Regional Health Center is excited to announce the first phase of a $20+ million expansion and renovation project is set to begin this Spring. “All of our planning and preparation have brought us to this point,” said Nicole Clapp, Grant Regional Health Center’s President/CEO. “I would like thank the residents of Lancaster and the surrounding communities for their support of our project. We are able to make this investment because your voices were heard and the show of support during City Council meetings last Fall was so appreciated.”
On target to break ground in early May, the project includes a combination of 32,000 square feet of new construction for hospital and clinic space as well as 39,000 square feet of extensive renovation of existing space. The renovations and new construction will be completed in stages, with final completion projected for early 2019. The construction firm for the project is JH Findorff and Son of Madison with Wold A/E as the architect firm.
The goal of the design includes a modern medical/surgical inpatient unit with private bathrooms; new space for our growing multi-specialty clinic; rooftop heliport for safety and patient privacy; fixed MRI in- house; expanded Emergency Department with enclosed ambulance bay; and much needed parking that will remain on the hospital campus and does not interfere with our residential neighbors.
With the hospital purchasing its land and assets from the City of Lancaster in 2015 and another step finalized last fall to vacate a portion of Monroe Street to allow for the expansion, Grant Regional was able to have renewed sense of direction and move ahead with renovation in its current location. Hospital leaders have been working with architects and engineers to develop a conceptual master facility plan for Grant Regional. “We recognize the limitations of a nearly 62 year old facility and we are simply out of space,” said Clapp, Grant Regional Health Center’s President/CEO. “The time is right. This expansion and renovation will provide enhanced technology with added patient comfort and convenience, all while expanding our campus footprint to offer better access, more centralized services and improved patient flow throughout the hospital.”
Preliminary site work started last Fall including public bids to remove houses and garages owned by the hospital. Several garages were razed but winter weather caused further work to wait until spring. The leadership team and managers along with Findorff and Wold have continued to meet to develop a comprehensive phasing plan. Some interior changes have been initiated to temporarily relocate non-clinical departments to allow for renovation to take place. Exterior activity will officially begin the week of April 24, when the site perimeter will be secured to prepare for arrival of construction crews and equipment. Handicap accessible parking will remain to the north of the main entrance. All other patients and visitors will be directed to access the hospital’s main entrance from Lincoln Avenue to Monroe Street and park in the current heliport until the new parking area to the north is completed by mid-July.
Interim procedures such as alternate off-site Helipad and other safety measures will be put into place as the project progresses.
“It’s an exciting time for us as the hospital grows and expands and our plan to keep the surrounding neighborhood and general public informed during each phase. We do anticipate with construction and renovation that some normal procedures will need to change during this process. We will do our very best to minimize any inconvenience or disruption when it comes caring to for our patients,” assures Clapp. “And patient safety and providing exceptional quality care will continue to be our top priority as we move through this important phase of progress for the future.”