A major addition and expansion for Mercy Hospital Fort Smith in Arkansas is complete. The $185-million, five-story, 162,000-square-foot addition enhances emergency care, behavioral health, imaging and intensive care services. The expansion allows the health system to accommodate approximately 25,000 more patient visits annually.
The project increased emergency department rooms from 29 to 50, added six trauma rooms and expanded ICU beds from 36 to 64. The new ER features dedicated spaces for infectious disease and behavioral health patients, including a secure five-room area designed to ensure the safety of both patients and staff. The project team included McCarthy Building Companies, ENFRA, HKS, Olsson Associates and Northstar Management.
Major infrastructure upgrades included enhancements to the mechanical penthouse, helipad and parking decks, along with an expanded central utility plant featuring new cooling towers, a generator and chillers. Work also included the addition of a 22-bed observation unit in the former ICU space, which required no renovation.
Key construction elements included precast concrete, site improvements and advanced technology. A hybrid structural system incorporated precast concrete, masonry, exterior insulation and finish systems and cast-in-place concrete, topped with a steel-framed mechanical penthouse. Site improvements included a surface lot expansion and a new integrated parking garage to enhance circulation.
