ST. LOUIS (April, 2011) - San Antonio Community Hospital hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for it's new 195,600 sq. ft., four-level Hospital Addition.  San Antonio Community Hospital officials are calling the addition one of the largest projects ever for its 104 year old building.

The $99 million hospital project will include a new patient tower and expansion of the hospital's Emergency Department.  "It's a significant investment to the future and to the community itself, and it really sets the stage for us to be able to build on what we have done in the past", said Vince Leist, the hospital's chief operating officer and interim chief executive officer.

The new four-story Patient Tower will be equipped with modern amenities for families, including a new Main Entrance and Lobby, a 52-bed Emergency Department that includes Emergent Care-19 beds; Urgent Care-15 beds; Non-urgent Care-18 beds; and ICU with 12 private beds, Medical/Surgical Unit with 80 private beds and 42,300 sq. ft. of Shell Space for future expansion plans.  Also included in the project is a freestanding 4,200 sq. ft. Central Plant.

The current facility was build in the 1970's to treat 30,000 patients yearly.  It now handles 71,000 patients annually.  The expansion project is expected to be complete in the Spring of 2014.

ABOUT HBE: 

HBE Corporation is the nation’s leading designer and builder of hospitals, including replacement hospitals and hospital renovations and additions.  The company has designed and built more than 1,100 hospitals in 49 states, and is ranked as the number one hospital design-build firm in the United States.  Headquartered in St. Louis, HBE is one of the largest privately held companies in the Midwest with a staff of 400 people including architects, engineers and construction professionals.