Construction of the 947,000 square-foot facility is slated to begin in April just south of the current medical center on the site of the old Fort Hood stadium. It is expected to be open for patients in late summer 2015.
"Were excited to see the project begin as it brings us one step closer to providing increased access to care and more health care services in line with the 21st century warfighter, said Col. (Dr.) Steven Braverman, CRDAMC commander (July 2009 to July 2011).
The original Darnall hospital opened in 1965 to serve 17,000 Soldiers, with an addition in 1984 added to serve 39,000 troops. Today, the hospital serves roughly 45,000 Soldiers, as well as nearly 125,000 family members and retirees within a 40-mile radius.
At 600,000 square feet, the current facility is undersized for the amount of services it provides, said Braverman. Each day Darnall averages 4,622 outpatient encounters, 202 emergency room visits, 26 surgeries, 26 admissions, seven births and 4,500 prescriptions filled.
The new medical center will be nearly 60 percent larger than the current facility and will include a six-story hospital, three out-patient clinic buildings and three parking garages.
We have worked hand-in-hand with the architects and designers from Balfour Beatty/McCarthy-HKS/Wingler & Sharp to create a modern campus that is both capable of meeting todays health care needs and is a comfortable place for patients to receive medical care, said Lt. Col. Michael C. Williams, project manager, U.S. Army Health Facility Planning Agency.
As patients enter the new facility, they will be welcomed by bright, natural light that engulfs the lobby through two-and-a-half story windowpanes. The natural light continues along a central concourse that makes navigating the hospital much simpler than the current design.
page last modified on: 6/4/2014