In June 2012, construction will begin on a 132,000-square-foot expansion of Springfield Clinic 1st. The site, north of the current building, is currently the location of an employee parking lot.
Completed in March 2006, SC 1st is used by more than 100 Springfield Clinic specialists in orthopedics, rheumatology, neurology, neurological surgery, OB/GYN, general surgery, colon and rectal surgery, vascular surgery, urology and cardiology. A skywalk extending over Dodge Street will connect the two buildings.
The new construction will include a parking garage that will hold nearly 600 vehicles. Patients will have walk-in access to physicians’ offices from each level of the garage. Memorial Health System will be funding the $60.5 million dollar project.
“Memorial Health System is very pleased to join with Springfield Clinic in the construction of this medical office building to serve the healthcare needs of Springfield and the central Illinois region,” said Ed Curtis, president and chief executive officer of Memorial Health System. “This project further strengthens our mission to improve the health of the people and communities we serve.”
“Our need for additional space is evident,” said Randy Bryant, chief executive officer at Springfield Clinic. “We’ve experienced a 67 percent increase in the number of physicians practicing at Springfield Clinic 1st, and quite frankly, we’re busting at the seams.”
Springfield Clinic officials expect the new facility to accommodate approximately 65 additional physicians, surgeons and mid-level providers.
“Planning the expansion has allowed us to redesign the delivery of our services to better meet our patients’ health care needs and significantly improve operational efficiency,” Bryant said. “We’re obviously very excited to get construction under way and look forward to another successful project with Memorial Health System.”
Plans for the expanded medical office space include a women’s health center on the first two floors, consolidating Springfield Clinic’s two OB/GYN practices and creating opportunities for other women’s health specialists to provide care in the same location. The building’s third floor will house Springfield Clinic’s general surgery and colon and rectal surgery departments; the fourth floor will accommodate Springfield Clinic’s cancer care center.
Pending approval from the city of Springfield for a zoning change from residential to business, construction is expected to be completed in October 2014. BSA Life Structures of St. Louis is the architect. Harold O’Shea Builders of Springfield is the general contractor.