Exterior nearing completion; workers to move indoors

With winter approaching, the first order of business for workers on the construction site is to enclosethe new patient tower.

The tower crane, originally installed in May 2008, was removed the first weekend in October. The two-day processwent without a hitch, according to Brian Phillips, project manager. Another 550-ton truck-mounted crane, brought on site to dismantle and remove it, came with a 135-foot main boom and a 308,000-pound counterweight. The heaviest section of the 17-piece tower crane weighed 34,000 pounds.

By mid-October, the roof, ceilings and concrete for the floors had been installed where the crane once stood within the patient tower.

By mid-November, the outer concrete panels and glass—the “skin” of the building—will be installed, and the air handlers will be operational. At that time, more construction workers will be on site to continue work inside.

In 2011, the basement and first three floors of the new addition will be finishedand ready to be occupied by the Emergency Department, Cafeteria, Environmental Services, Surgery, Education Department, Nursing Administration and other services.

Construction update

COO Keith Jewell shares the latest on the Indianapolis construction.



Watch our progress! Visit our Facebook album to see changes at the Indianapolis campus.

Media weigh in on construction news

Recent headlines on the Sisters of St. Francis Health Services' decision to ramp up construction at the Indianapolis campus include:

WIBC: Indianapolis Hospital Calls Off Expansion Halt
Sept. 26, 2009
An Indianapolis hospital is going ahead with a $260 million expansion project that it said six months ago it was halting.

Indianapolis Star: St. Francis Hospital resumes expansion project
Sept. 25, 2009
In a sign the economy is rebounding, St. Francis Hospital and Health Center is resuming construction of a $265 million expansion at its Far-Southside hospital.

Inside Indiana Business: St. Francis to Resume Construction Project
Sept. 25, 2009
St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers is resuming a normal construction schedule on an inpatient bed tower at its Indianapolis campus.

Indianapolis Business Journal: St. Francis resumes work on $265M project
Sept. 24, 2009
With its financial performance exceeding expectations, St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers will resume construction on a $265 million, 221-bed patient tower at its Indianapolis campus, the hospital system announced Thursday.

Indianapolis construction project picks up pace

St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers is moving ahead again on the construction of an inpatient bed tower at its campus on the far south side of Indianapolis.

“It is with great pleasure that we announce construction is resuming with the St. Francis Hospital Indianapolis campus consolidation project,” said Robert J. Brody, president and chief executive officer. “Construction had been delayed because of the turbulent economic environment. Though at the time, the delay was disappointing, it was determined that a fiscally conservative approach was most appropriate.

“Today the situation has improved,” Brody added. “After careful and ongoing evaluation of key economic indicators and the financial performance of the hospital, the Sisters of St. Francis Health Services Board of Trustees voted to resume the project at full steam ahead. We are most grateful for the board’s confidence and support.”

St. Francis officials last March announced the postponement of the project until there were visible signs of an improved economy.

“Throughout these past long months of unprecedented economic challenges, the dedication, stewardship and loyalty of our St. Francis family has been a guiding and stabilizing influence in our ability to respond positively to the environment while continuing to move our mission forward,” said Chief Operating Officer Keith Jewell, who has been overseeing much of the project since its inception in 2007.

Although considerably slowed, the work never did come to a standstill. In recent months, much of the exterior of the bed tower has been finished and some windows and framing put in place.Tonn and Blank Construction of Indianapolis and Michigan City is performing the work.

New features and additions included in the consolidation are:

• 221 inpatient beds in the six-story bed tower (177 medical-surgical, 30 intensive care, 14 observation)
• New and renovated outpatient surgery area, adding 10 new suites, and a café near the waiting area
• New and expanded emergency department with 68 treatment rooms, a satellite laboratory, CT scan and ultrasound rooms-- New pharmacy area and expanded lab services
• Expanded imaging services
• Areas for nursing administration, medical staff offices, medical staff library and respiratory therapy
• New hyberbaric chamber used for wound care
• New cafeteria
• New main entrance located on the east side of the facility

More than 1,600 new parking spaces already have been added at the hospital campus.

The consolidation is part of an overall plan to migrate inpatient and other services from St. Francis-Beech Grove to the Indianapolis hospital.

Recession forces St. Francis to delay Indianapolis project

Citing the turbulent economy and its reeling effects on south-central Indiana, St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers has announced postponement of construction at the inpatient bed tower at its Indianapolis campus.

St. Francis officials announced that action March 11, emphasizing that construction will resume as the economy improves.

“Traditionally, hospitals have avoided such economic slumps, but that paradigm no longer exists,” said Robert J. Brody, St. Francis president and chief executive officer. “St. Francis is fortunate that it has a strong financial foundation because of its conservative planning and strong stewardship of its resources. This decision helps to reinforce our sound footing.”

The decision to postpone further construction will help shield the hospital system from the most negative effects of the recession and continue to provide health care to the patients St. Francis serves at not only Indianapolis, but also its campuses in Beech Grove and Mooresville.

At present, the concrete pouring at each of the floors of the inpatient bed tower is nearly complete and work to enclose the exterior is expected to be finished by mid-summer. At that time, the remaining construction will be put on hold. The overall project is about 40 percent complete.

The slowdown of construction and other capital projects is reverberating nationally with hospital systems. The American Hospital Association reported in January that nearly half of hospitals nationwide have put capital projects on hold, and many have stopped projects already in process. A January report from the Healthcare Financial Management Association places the number of postponements or cancellations at an even higher estimate of 78 percent.