On the horizon
In December 2017, the doors to our new heart and vascular and neuromedicine hospitals will open for patients.
In January 2015, UF Health leaders, faculty, staff and community members gathered for the UF Health Heart & Vascular and Neuromedicine hospitals’ groundbreaking ceremony. In December 2017, less than three years later, our shared vision will become a reality as the hospitals open to patients and their families.
The specialty hospitals will provide world-class space in which our providers can deliver concentrated care to meet the growing demand for UF Health’s neurologic, neurosurgical, heart and vascular services. Consolidating care in one building will help us provide an outstanding experience for patients, with more efficiency and a variety of treatment options in the same location. The $415 million project will provide a place for continued growth and an advanced home for the care of patients with complex health conditions.
UF Health Shands Facilities teams are working with several companies on the project: Skanska USA is heading the construction work; Affiliated Engineers Inc. is the building’s engineering firm; and Flad & Associates are the architects designing the building.
Michael Gross, R.N., a UF Health Shands Hospital Neuro ICU Unit 82 nurse, looks out at the construction site of the heart and neuro hospitals. He is one of hundreds of staff members who will transition to the new space in late 2017.
Mindy Miller
Our construction, by the numbers
450 workers on-site per day (average)
814,876+ hours of work to date
35,970 cubic yards of concrete
2,700 tons of reinforcement steel
115,000 square feet of glass
$32.5 million positive economic impact (local and regional workers salaries)
All figures were estimated in May 2016
Brick by brick
“It’s great to see the building take shape. Every day there is so much progress, which is in part due to our environment of safety. It’s a way of life for us and that’s a huge reason why we’re on schedule. We look forward to big milestones — like powering up the building and installing air conditioning — and we’re encouraged by our progress. This facility will be wonderful for the people who will use it.”
Rick Shelton, Skanska USA Environmental Health and Safety project manager.
Mindy Miller
What’s in a name?
Wayfinding is more than just signage: The language we use when referring to our facilities affects how people navigate our health care system. Clear naming conventions ensure that we communicate consistently with patients, visitors and each other.
Formal names, separate reference:
-UF Health Heart & Vascular Hospital
-UF Health Neuromedicine Hospital
Formal name, combined reference:
-UF Health Heart & Vascular and Neuromedicine hospitals
Informal reference:
-heart hospital
-neuro hospital
-heart and neuro hospitals
Fast facts
- $415 million budget
- 216 inpatient rooms
- 20 operating rooms
- 78 clinic exam/procedure spaces
Building design goes green
With this new construction, we are pursuing a Green Globes Certification, an assessment that measures environmental performance and sustainable design. The American National Standards Institute criteria include indoor air quality, efficient water consumption and recycling efforts.
Patient parking? No problem.
A 600-space parking garage adjacent to the hospitals will ensure easy access for patients and visitors if they forgo valet parking. A covered walkway from the garage will lead into the lobby of the building, where metro-inspired wayfinding will help patients, visitors, faculty and staff find their way through the facility.
“This building has two front doors, not a back door,” said Brad Pollitt, A.I.A., UF Health Shands Facilities Development vice president. “We designed it to ensure our patients and visitors can easily access the hospitals, whether they choose to self-park or use the valet service. Everything we’re creating has our patients’ ease in mind.”
