New York Construction Report staff writer
Strong Memorial Hospital has reached a major milestone in the largest expansion and modernization project in its 100-year history with the topping-off of its new patient tower.
On Sept. 22, the final steel beam was raised into place during a ceremony marking the completion of the structural steel frame. In the days leading up to the event, hospital employees were invited to sign the beam and become part of the project’s progress.
Many staff took part, including longtime Emergency Department employee Danny Pasquarella, who has worked in the ED for 13 years.
“This has been home to me and this is a great thing that’s happening,” Pasquarella said. “When we expand, it’s going to be wonderful for the community and our department. I’m excited for it to open as soon as it can.”
The expansion project is designed by Ballinger, which is providing architectural, interior design and structural engineering services. Construction is being led by a joint venture of Turner Construction Company and Pike Construction Services.
The new tower represents a significant step forward in patient care, with construction crews steadily transforming the building from its steel “skeleton” into a fully functioning facility. Concrete has been poured on more than half of the floors, while mechanical and electrical systems are being installed.
“It’s meaningful and special because this is a huge milestone,” said Kathy Parrinello, president and CEO of Strong and Highland Hospitals. “In less than two years we’ll be moving into the new tower and it is so exciting. Everyone knows how badly we need this for our patients and the community and it is fabulous to be at this point.”
Crews have begun work on the hospital’s “heart,” a centralized mechanical floor that will house essential equipment. A new loading dock is also underway to support the future flow of supplies and waste removal.
Earlier this month, bridge connections were set on three levels above the ground floor, creating visible links between the existing hospital and the future tower.
Following a productive summer on site, upcoming work includes plumbing connections, temporary heating for the winter months, and the installation of a fuel fill station at the generator building near Eastman Dental. Meanwhile, Strong’s Operational Readiness team has launched meetings with clinical and departmental staff to prepare for the eventual move into the new space.
The tower is scheduled to open in less than two years, expanding capacity and modernizing care for patients across the region.
