Lee Health has broken ground on the new 53-acre healthcare campus in Fort Myers, Florida, US, that will feature a 168-bed acute care hospital and a musculoskeletal institute.
This new campus, located at the intersection of Colonial and Challenger Boulevards, is estimated to cost $481m, reported Gulfshore Business.
The first phase of construction is expected to be completed by 2028.
The campus will include more than 400,000ft² of hospital space, 125,000ft² dedicated to medical offices and ambulatory surgery, and 18,000ft² to a central energy plant.
Once completed, the campus is expected to become a premier destination for healthcare services, including orthopaedic surgery.
The aforementioned acute care hospital will house 24 intensive care unit beds, a 44-bed emergency department, and ten inpatient operating rooms.
Additionally, the medical office building will feature eight operating rooms and will be the home of the Lee Health Musculoskeletal Institute.
Lee Health stated that the current flagship hospital, the 227-bed Lee Memorial on Cleveland Avenue, will continue to operate until 2027.
It will provide emergency care, inpatient beds, and surgical services until the new facility is fully functional.
Lee Health president and CEO Dr Larry Antonucci said: “Today’s ground-breaking is more than just the start of construction; it’s a celebration of the Fort Myers community and the future of healthcare that Lee Health is committed to bringing.
“This campus represents our commitment to meeting the growing needs of Southwest Florida and ensuring our residents and visitors have access to world-class medical care for generations to come.”
