FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
11/24/2015 12:00:00 AM
CENTRAL
Updated:
11/24/2015 5:15:26 PM
CENTRAL
New Entrance Expansion Project Underway at St. Francis: December 1, 2015 Groundbreaking
St. Francis Regional Medical Center is fortunate to continue to grow along with the community and the regional growth being experienced in the area. St. Francis will break ground on December 1, 2015 on a project that will expand and improve its current front entrance. The 15,500 square foot project will increase the hospital’s foot print by slightly more than one fourth of an acre.
New services and an expanded main entrance will provide an even better experience for patients and visitors. Soon there will be a clear, distinguishable front entrance to the hospital. The project will provide space for a new Allina pharmacy and a coffee shop with retail and food selections. Park Nicollet Clinic will be expanding and adding a new health and care retail store, while relocating their CPAP and optical retail areas. The new entrance to the hospital and campus will be warm and inviting.
The new addition, will include three new entrances; the main entrance and entrances to the east & west. The new front will have an open look with high ceilings, ambient pendent and LED recessed lighting, using one third the energy. A wide concourse will lead visitors to the retail areas, clinics and to the hospital. A new space will be built for volunteer greeters to help patient and visitors during their stay. Air current and door systems in the new entrance will be improved to keep out cold winter breezes.
The exterior and grounds leading up to the hospital will have an organic feel with coffee shop, patio seating, stamped concrete, bike racks, ornamental grasses and lots of colorful plantings and trees. During the winter months, a snowmelt system will provide a safe entry into the hospital. There will also be lots of exterior window systems and a new patient drop off canopy giving a warm and comfortable arrival to the campus.
Starting in December, while the main entrance is undergoing this exciting construction, our patient and visitor flow will require a few temporary changes. During construction, the MAIN ENTRANCE will be CHANGED to the NORTH ENTRANCE (across from Target) and all hospital patients and visitors should use the nearby orange parking lot. More information and a map for the community will be made available during this phase. All clinics patients should park and enter through the 1601 Medical Office Building, including Park Nicollet. The emergency entrance will remain open 24/7.
The projected cost is $7 million and is expected to be completed by early fall 2016. This project kicks off as the health campus begins celebrating 20 years of growth at its current site after re-locating the old hospital from downtown in 1996. Thanks to St. Francis and its owners, Allina Health, Park Nicollet and Essentia Health, the community will soon experience expanded retail and a beautiful entrance as they enter the health campus.