Aerial photo – hospital construction- steel beam installation, June 2008.
Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital board member Gayle Gray signs the last steel beam to be installed into the new hospital wing, currently being built.
Hospital foundation assistant Jamie Guth and her father Ron, the hospital’s chief financial officer, commemorate the hospitals’ anniversary date by signing the last steel beam to be installed in the new hospital wing. Photo by: Richard Hallman |
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June 4, 2008
HOOD RIVER, Ore. – It was a symbolic moment. With a bit of nostalgia and a lot of excitement, Hood River residents, board members and employees gathered to commemorate Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital’s opening day 76 years ago. At the same time – and the same date of June 3 – they also joined in celebrating a new moment in local history.
Standing in front of the historic 1932 hospital entrance, they signed their names onto a high tech steel beam that is 12 foot long and 8 inches thick. This ceremonial last beam completes the steel backbone of the hospital’s new three story wing. It is so heavy it can only be lifted into place by the 40-ton construction crane that has dominated the Hood River Heights skyline for the last few weeks.
The beam is a key milestone in the $50 million expansion project that will add and improve 74,000 square feet to the regional medical center by 2009. The added and remodeled space is essential given a community growth projection of 27 percent during the next 20 years.
A series of expansions over the least 76 years has extended the Hood River hospital campus from the original 1932 building. Today, the historic structure stands as it did for seven decades ago - except when it opened, it housed a nursery, an operating room and the billing department. Today, the 1932 wing houses an occupational medicine clinic, travel health clinic and information systems - programs of a modern medical era.
Once the expansion is complete in 2009, the Hood River e campus will feature a new, welcoming entrance, easy access and a better flow between busy departments.
The new three-story tall hospital wing will expand radiology, family birthing and surgery departments, and will make room for expanded emergency services. After completion In addition, the current facility will be completely modernized.
After the last construction worker goes home, the beautiful old 1932 hospital building will stand just as it does today, a treasured icon of a bygone era.
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Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital is part of the not-for-profit Providence Health & Services, Oregon’s largest health system and largest private employer. Providence Hood River is a full service critical access hospital with a 24-hour Emergency Department. Providence offers a wide range of health care services in the communities of the Columbia River Gorge through its health plans, clinics, programs and senior living facilities. |
