McCarthy Building Companies recently broke ground on a new patient tower and an expansion of the surgical center at the Erlanger East Hospital in Chattanooga, Tenn. Site work on the $31 million project began in May and comes on the heels of McCarthy winning a master plan contract for Erlanger's main campus in 2014.

The 99,000-square-foot expansion project, which will transform the existing facility into a full-service hospital, includes four new operating rooms, a PACU expansion, a Prep/Post op expansion, a new cardiac catheterization suite, and renovations to the reception and administrative areas. This project also includes a new 58-bed patient tower with a food court, pharmacy and laboratory areas.

“McCarthy has proven to be a great partner to Erlanger,” said Erlanger Health System President and CEO Kevin M. Spiegel, FACHE.  “We are pleased to work with this outstanding organization as we expand our facilities to meet the growing needs of our community today and in the coming years.”

In 2013, the Erlanger Health System opened its fifth emergency department at Erlanger East Hospital. One of five Erlanger campuses located throughout the region, it served more than 22,000 area residents during its first year of operations.

“We are honored to build a facility that will provide such an important function for the Chattanooga community,” said Project Director Gary McGrath. “We’re very excited to be part of the fabric of this city and are already looking for ways to give back by identifying our first Heart Hats project in Chattanooga, something we do on every project to show our appreciation to the community.”

Throughout the project, McCarthy will work closely with adjacent property owners and Erlanger employees to ensure a safe and productive environment during construction. The project is designed by HKS Architects, Inc. and is slated to be completed by December 2016.