Spartanburg Medical Center, in Spartanburg, S.C., plans to demolish a historic section of the hospital and build a new patient wing and main entrance, according to an article on The State website.

The project is part of Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System's master facility plan. The healthcare system expects to invest more than $500 million in the multi-phase project over the next 10 to 15 years, the article said.

“One of the things we don't really have right now is a recognizable main entrance,” said Phil Feisal, the medical center's president. To construct the new entrance, plans call for the demolition of the oldest portion of the hospital.

“It's something that has been in service and has helped patients for more than 100 years, but it is not really conducive to the amount of equipment and things that we require in a patient's room for care these days," said Mark Aycock, the healthcare system's chief operating officer.

Feisal said he hopes the changes make it easier for patients and visitors to find their way around the hospital, which covers more than 1.6 million square feet and has 45 elevators.

Read the article.