CarolinaEast in Midst of Largest Expansion, Renovation in 50+ Year History

CarolinaEast Health System is moving full steam ahead with the largest expansion and renovation project in the medical provider’s history.

The most visible change will be the new three-story tower that will be built to the right of the existing main entrance of CarolinaEast Medical Center in New Bern, North Carolina. This new space will allow for the complete renovation of the women’s and children’s services on the second floor.

The new women’s and children’s health pavilion will be located in existing patient care areas that will be completely renovated to accommodate the special needs of this patient population. The pediatric care area will be adjacent to the women’s care area.

The first floor of the new tower will house administrative offices and public spaces while the third floor will be home to an expanded clinical laboratory freeing up existing space to accommodate additional emergency department growth.

Leslie Allen, vice president of facilities and safety for CarolinaEast explains the planning and precise choreography that must be in place for this to flow smoothly with minimal inconvenience to guests and no impact on operations. “We are definitely going to experience some growing pains,” said Allen who stated there will be over 30,000 square feet of new construction and over 70,000 square feet of renovations to accomplish the desired outcomes and goals. “While some components of the project may take place concurrently, for the most part, one phase must be completed before the next phase begins. It’s like dominos,” she explained.

The emergency department expansion and renovation will seek to mitigate the congestion experienced and will occur in three phases, each commencing upon the completion of another component of the expansion.

Surgical services will be enhanced with additional operating suites for general and cardiac surgery and the relocation of the post-operative patient care area to the second floor of the new tower. Additional cardiac catheterization and electrophysiology labs will accommodate the growing number of interventional cardiology capabilities offered at CarolinaEast.

Safety and accessibility will be addressed through parking lot reconfiguration and the construction of a corridor that will connect the current main entrance to the existing patient registration entrance that will eventually become the emergency department entrance.

The entire expansion and renovation is budgeted to cost approximately $64 million, which allows for 3 percent inflation and contingencies and will be funded through cash reserves and revenue. The official groundbreaking on the tower was Feb. 10, with all components of the expansion and renovation to be complete by late 2018.

The general contractor on the project is Rodgers Builders, Inc.; McCulloch England Associates Architects is serving as architect.

Renderings courtesy of McCulloch England Associates Architects.