The Piedmont Atlanta Tower, Piedmont Healthcare’s expansion project, reached its topping out milestone – meaning that framing of the 16-story structure is complete. To mark the occasion for the project, which broke ground in January 2017, Piedmont held celebratory events recently for the design and construction team, employees and for approximately 80 major donors who have made donations of $100,000 or more to support the capital expansion project.
The tower will house Piedmont Heart Institute, which has one of two heart transplant programs in Georgia and is a top destination for cardiovascular care. The tower will include the new Marcus Heart and Vascular Center, made possible through a $75 million donation from The Marcus Foundation, and the tower also will feature the Samsky Invasive Cardiovascular Services Center. Brett, Louise and Connor Samsky recently pledged $11 million to establish the Samsky Center.
Piedmont Healthcare CEO Kevin Brown, Piedmont Atlanta Hospital CEO Patrick Battey, M.D., and Jim Gorrie, CEO of Brasfield & Gorrie, the project’s general contractor, all gave speeches during the event.
“It is a testament to the talent of the team working on this project that after 27 months the project remains on budget and ahead of schedule, despite the challenging weather that we have endured,” Brown said. “When the project is complete, it will help us to continue to provide world-class cardiovascular care and cutting-edge treatments for untold thousands of patients from throughout the Southeast for years to come.”
The first phase is on schedule to open in late summer 2020.
“This milestone is the result of the hard work of our project team, client and trade partners, aided by a strong focus on innovation, collaboration, safety and self-perform,” said Brasfield & Gorrie CEO Jim Gorrie. “We are honored to continue our longstanding relationship with Piedmont Healthcare and deliver this transformative facility.”
Phase II of the tower up-fit will begin in 2022 and one patient floor will be completed per year, except for 2026 when the final two floors will be built out. Phase I of the project will cost $450 million. When the project is complete in 2026, it will come at a cost of $603 million. The Piedmont Foundation has raised $110 million towards the $150 million fundraising goal it set for the tower.
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