Florida Construction News staff writer

Baptist Health South Florida has broken ground on a new rehabilitation hospital in South Miami, a joint venture with Lifepoint Rehabilitation.

Robins & Morton is the general contractor for the project and ESa is the architect.

Construction, on currently vacant land near Sunset Drive and SW 62 Avenue, is expected to last about two years The three-storey, freestanding hospital is expected to open in. 2026 and will have 62 private inpatient rooms, with the option to expand by another 30 rooms.

The new hospital will feature therapy gymnasiums equipped with various therapeutic technologies such as therapy bionics, augmented reality balance training, and a full body exoskeleton.

A therapeutic courtyard and outdoor spaces are also planned, as well as a three-storey parking garage with 179 spaces.

Miami-Dade County’s acute inpatient rehab services are currently centralised at Baptist Health Homestead Hospital, which features 23 private rooms.

“Our facilities are designed to enhance the overall therapeutic process with patient-centred, inviting and healing environments that allow for privacy as well as communal activity,” said Dr Tolchin. “Centralisation of services creates connectivity between clinicians, alignment of goals and teamwork to promote the best possible outcomes.”