Florida Construction News staff writer
Orlando Health South Lake Hospital, Lake County has celebrated a major milestone in the construction of a new, 95-bed patient tower. The expansion will generate more than 500 construction jobs and is slated for completion in early 2024.
“This an exciting milestone for our hospital and the community,” hospital presidentLance Sewell said in a statement. “The addition of our new patient tower is a continuation of our legacy and mission that first began in 1947 and will allow us to continue providing high-quality healthcare for decades to come as Lake County continues to grow.”
As part of the expansion, seven new postpartum beds were added to the Orlando Health South Lake Center for Women’s Health earlier this year. An additional four labor and delivery beds will be added in phase two of the project along with expanded women’s services to meet the growing healthcare needs of Lake County.
A $50 million grant from The Live Well Foundation of South Lake, an organization created to address healthcare needs in the community helped pay for the project.
“We’re proud to partner with Orlando Health South Lake Hospital on such an important project for our community,” said Rodney Drawdy, LiveWell Foundation board of directors member and 2023 board chair-elect. “This expansion will provide individuals and families with access to preventative and emergency healthcare services right in their own community. We’re excited for the way this will positively impact the health and wellness of those who call South Lake County home.”
The project’s first phase included realignment of Don Wickham Drive at Legends Way and Citrus Tower Boulevard. The realignment if Legends Way and Citrus Tower Boulevard will also have a stoplight to improve traffic flow. The completed tower will allow for an expanded intensive care unit and create more than 150 full-time hospital positions across all four floors.
