North Oaks Board of Commissioners Awards Construction Contract for Medical Center Expansion

On April 27, The North Oaks Board of Commissioners authorized award of a $55,745,000 construction contract to Hoar Construction, LLC of Birmingham, Ala. for North Oaks Medical Center’s first phase of expansion.

The expansion project will address the hospital’s need for more patient beds, as well as additional operating room suites to accommodate emergent and elective surgical procedure demands, according to North Oaks Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer Michele K. Sutton.

“We are pleased to be working with one of the nation’s leading health care contractors to expand North Oaks Medical Center,” states North Oaks Board of Commissioners Chairman Guy Recotta Jr. “Moving forward with this project upholds our commitment to meeting the needs of those we serve, as well as our leadership role in redesigning the way health care is delivered in our region.”

The total cost of the expansion project, including design, construction, furniture and fixture expenses, has been funded through a $99 million bond issuance and designed by Washer Hill Lipscomb Cabaniss Architecture, LLC of Baton Rouge, also known as WHLC.

“WHLC has expertly incorporated our patient-centered focus in their design of our expansion,” Sutton comments. “It seamlessly blends with the aesthetics of our current facility and reflects the progressive nature of our growing health system.”

Major components of the expansion 200,000-square-foot, 5-story hospital tower include an additional 14 operating room suites, 12 more outpatient surgery beds and 67 new, private inpatient rooms.

Sixteen of the new inpatient rooms will be used for critical care patients, and 51 for medical/surgical and telemetry patients. The new rooms will increase the hospital’s inpatient bed count to 326 and the private room ratio from 51% to 60%.

Infrastructure enhancements, such as a new mechanical loop, central mechanical plant, medical gas farm, generator enclosure and helipad, along with site work and an entry tie-in to North Oaks Office Plaza also are components of the project. In addition, nearly 30,000 square feet of space adjoining the Emergency Department, along with 20,000 square feet of space adjoining the new operating room suites, will be shelled in for future expansion needs in phase two.

It is anticipated that the project will take 24 months to complete and that patient care will begin in the tower as early as the second quarter of 2012.

For More Information
• For a project fact sheet regarding the North Oaks Medical Center Expansion, click here or call North Oaks Marketing/Business Development at (985) 230-6647.

The new hospital tower will adjoin the Signature Building and Office Plaza on the North Oaks Medical Center campus in Hammond.