Boone Hospital Center breaks ground on our new campus
On Thursday, July 24, the Boone Hospital Center Board of Trustees broke ground on the new south campus medical plaza, located at the corner of Nifong Boulevard and Forum Boulevard.
When complete in 2015, the site will potentially be home to four buildings with a total of 125,000 square feet of space for health care services. The project will be completed in phases, with phase one to include the construction of an 80,000 square-foot signature building designed to reflect the architectural features of the new south tower on the main Boone hospital campus, which opened in 2011.
“Our goal is to grow with Columbia and our entire service area,” says Jim Sinek, Boone Hospital Center President. “The southwest portion of Columbia continues to expand, and there is a need for more convenient access to high quality health care services. We have nearly completed the programmatic plan regarding the services that will be provided at our south campus. Community needs assessment and input from numerous contingency groups have guided us on the services to be offered.”
The $20-million development will be located on 14 acres of land purchased by the Board of Trustees in 1989, when the growth of southern Columbia was already apparent. The Trustees selected Coil Construction to manage the project.
“Coil Construction is pleased to be a part of bringing Boone Hospital Center and its great reputation to the south part of Columbia,” says Randy Coil, owner of Coil Construction. “What a terrific use for the land the Trustees purchased almost 25 years ago and what a great addition to health care in our community.”
Lanes will be added to both Forum and Nifong Boulevards to accommodate the project. These upgrades will require the relocation of the memorial placed on Nifong in honor of Officer Molly Bowden, who was killed in the line of duty in 2005.
“We have been working with Officer Bowden’s family to ensure that a permanent and more appropriate memorial is established to recognize the sacrifice she made on behalf of our community,” says Fred Parry, Chairman of the Boone Hospital Board of Trustees. “We will be creating a pocket park with a reflecting pool, park benches and access to a walking trail that winds through the new development. This will be a wonderful tribute to Officer Bowden.”