Spaulding Rehab Celebrates Ceremonial Groundbreaking in Charlestown Navy Yard

BOSTON — On Thursday, October 7, Governor Deval Patrick, Congressman Michael Capuano, Mayor Thomas M. Menino, State Rep. Eugene O’Flaherty and several other state and city elected officials and healthcare leaders joined the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital community for a ceremonial groundbreaking at the site of the New Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital facility, on Parcel 6 the Charlestown Navy Yard.

“Spaulding is a valued resource to the Commonwealth, offering critical rehabilitative services to the residents of Massachusetts and greater New England,” said Governor Deval Patrick. “This project ensures the future of this vital institution and will provide over 300 construction jobs. Spaulding’s commitment to our environment by investing in the clean up of this site and the project’s LEED silver certification speak to their mission to not only rehabilitate their patients, but the community they will call home.”

“Spaulding’s new facility is good news because it will improve people’s physical health with a new state-of-the-art facility and strengthen the city’s economic health with the creation of much needed construction jobs,” Mayor Thomas M. Menino said. “I’m delighted that we’ve broken ground on several new healthcare facilities in the last couple of weeks because we are so fortunate to have these institutions in our city. They provide top notch care to our residents and help move our economy forward. Spaulding’s new facility will greatly improve this section of the Charlestown Navy Yard by turning a brownfield into a greenfield and providing additional open space including new Harborwalk connections.”

“For 40 years, thousands of patients and families from our region and all over the world have come to Spaulding to create their own remarkable recoveries guided by our dedicated caregivers. As we stand today as stewards of this rich legacy of care, SRH is positioned to enter a new phase in its journey with a New Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital,” said David E. Storto, President, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. “Growing in national prominence to now our #4 ranking in US News and World Reports Best Hospitals and serving as a center of research, Spaulding is poised to reach unprecedented heights and create new avenues of recovery while increasing our efficiency in healthcare delivery.”

The project initially announced in 2005 has been proceeding through the regulatory and approval process receiving approvals from The Charlestown Neighborhood Council, the Boston Redevelopment Authority, The Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Public Health Council and is currently in the final approval process for Chapter 91 licensing by the Environmental Protection Agency. Pending final Chapter 91 approval, construction will begin shortly there after with an expected completion of the project in December 2012.

The project’s estimated cost is $220 million dollars and is expected to create over 300 construction jobs. Spaulding currently employs over 1000 full and part time staff. In addition, Spaulding has committed significant resources to an extensive clean up of the Navy Yard site turning a brownfield into a Greenfield. Spaulding has also an over 40 year commitment to the Charlestown community supporting community events such as the annual Road Race and scholarship and work force development programs with partners in the community.

Several Key Features for a New Spaulding Hospital: – Will meet and exceed all current ADA accessibility standards, becoming a model for Universal Design.

– Being built to “Green Design” specifications and design is LEED Silver Certified.

– Increased clinical and research space.

– 132 private rooms with larger, fully accessible private bathrooms

– Aquatic center and rooftop garden, for therapeutic use as well as energy efficiency

– Auditorium (will be available for community use)- Additional education and conference space

– Dr. Charles Weingarten Adaptive Sports Program (available for community use).

About the Spaulding Rehabilitation Network
A member of Partners HealthCare, The Spaulding Rehabilitation Network includes Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital its main campus, a 196-bed facility, located in Boston, as well as Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Cape Cod, two long term care facilities Spaulding Hospital Cambridge and Spaulding Hospital North Shore and two skilled nursing facilities, as well as twenty three outpatient sites throughout the Greater Boston area. Spaulding is a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School as well as the official rehabilitation hospital of the New England Patriots. Spaulding is the only rehabilitation hospital in New England continually ranked since 1995 by U.S. News and World Report in its Best Hospitals survey with a #4 ranking in 2010. For more information, please visit www.spauldingrehab.org.