In the next major development toward building a new La Porte Hospital, officials at the hospital have selected a primary architect for the project. Gresham, Smith and Partners – a nationally-recognized firm of architects, engineers, interior designers, and planners with more than 50 years in business – will serve as the lead architectural firm. Hospital design is one of their specialties. The hospital has also begun working with local engineers from RQAW in La Porte for initial site preparation work, and Randall Miller & Associates, Inc., from Marion, Indiana, is overseeing the site survey.
“The New La Porte Hospital is going to be an exceptional facility, so we wanted to be sure to select teams with specialized knowledge. We’ve made the commitment to build the new La Porte Hospital downtown which means we will need to work creatively in the limited space available. The expertise from Gresham, Smith and Partners, RQAW, and Randall Miller & Associates, Inc., will support the development of an innovative design and help us realize our vision for the new hospital,” said Ashley Dickinson, CEO of La Porte Hospital.
Mark Kosior, chairman of the La Porte Hospital Board of Trustees, said the board is pleased to see the project moving forward.
“We have a solid leadership team at La Porte Hospital who is taking careful consideration at every step of this project to ensure its success. The board is pleased that the hospital will be working with these experts to ensure we’re ready to break ground next year. With the input of our physicians and staff, we look forward to building a replacement hospital that sets a new standard for excellent patient care, while contributing favorably to the downtown landscape of La Porte,” Kosior said.
Dickinson said the architects will be on site frequently as planning enters the next phase. With site preparation underway, focus now turns to refining the hospital’s design, choosing the final footprint of where it will be placed on hospital property downtown, and engaging hospital staff and physicians to provide valuable input on designing workspaces for optimal staff and patient flow. The hospital will release a rendering after these steps have taken place.
“Patient experience and quality care is top of mind for our new hospital. The way we deliver healthcare today is different than when the current hospital was first designed. Our patients expect convenience, easy flow, and efficiency of care. A well-designed facility will contribute to providing high-quality care, so we will spend a great deal of time and energy on getting the design right on the front end,” Dickinson said.
Gresham, Smith and Partners has worked with dozens of healthcare clients throughout the US and internationally, specializing in designing solutions built for the environment at hand.
“We look forward to this project because we know how much the La Porte community cares about their local hospital. This project is unique because La Porte is unique. The most intriguing facet is the challenge of designing and constructing a new facility on the existing hospital-owned property nearby while maintaining operations at the current hospital campus next door. Our initial meetings with hospital leadership have been very informative. The excitement of the staff is contagious and we see a great project team coming together,” said Gregory Gore, Healthcare Principal at Gresham, Smith and Partners.
As teams discuss and refine where the new hospital will be situated, others will begin carrying out plans to clear space for staging on property that the hospital owns. The removal of the home at 1301 Lincolnway is one of several changes that the community will begin to notice on La Porte Hospital property as preparations begin.
“We are honored to participate in the development of our own community’s new hospital. Work has already started on initial site preparation, and we look forward to seeing the positive momentum that the replacement hospital will bring,” said Paul Vincent from RQAW, a local engineering and architectural firm in La Porte.
"We are pleased to support a project of this complexity and scope,” said Jason Miller, President of Randall Miller & Associates, Inc. “It is exciting to be involved at the ground level of the new La Porte Hospital and to contribute to the future of the facility.”
The new facility will be located on property adjacent to the current hospital. An announcement about this final location will be made soon.
“This is a sign that site prep is really starting to happen, and it’s exciting for all of us. We are looking forward to building a new hospital for our community, and will continue to communicate details as they become finalized,” Dickinson said.
For more information on the new hospital progress, visit newlaportehospital.com.
