By By JOHN EBY / Dowagiac Daily News
A 4,000-square-foot addition to Borgess Lee-Memorial Hospital Dowagiac Planning Commission reviewed Monday night will modernize its look in addition to expanding emergency facilities from five to nine exam rooms.
Design elements include vertical pylons and porcelain tiles to introduce the theme of an American quilt which will be lighted at night.
Patients waiting for test results can offset the sterile hospital environment with windows providing natural light.
Once construction starts in early April, the addition is expected to take seven months to build.
Thomson Architectural of Stevensville is designing the facility improvements.
Fourteen parking spaces will be lost, but the hospital has 155, compared to the 125 mandated by bed count. The 141 remaining will satisfy that requirement.
Access into the ER will not change, but the parking layout will, city Building Official James Bradford explained.
One practical step being taken with the expansion is to separate ambulances from public traffic.
On the entrance nearest Division Street by Farr Park there will be a circle drive.
Ambulances coming off Main Street will turn around by the loading dock.
Sometimes as many as five ambulances show up at a time.
Two can be accommodated under cover.
Phase one construction, starting April 1 to April 15, will build the addition.
Once the ER moves into the new space, a single story of concrete block, then renovation of the current ER area will be undertaken to maintain continuous operation.
Nelson said the medical arts facility the city is brokering is still moving forward, but will likely be located on a different site off the hospital property.