(COLORADO SPRINGS) — UCHealth said it is planning a major expansion to Memorial Hospital North that will nearly double its size to meet the growing healthcare needs of the community. UCHealth said from 2019 to 2024, inpatient admissions at Memorial Hospital North increased 31%, visits to the emergency room 25% and the number of surgeries grew 53%. According to UCHealth, phase one of the expansion will include adding operating rooms and a new inpatient tower with an initial 36 new medical-surgical beds and 14 ICU beds. A six-level parking garage will be built to accommodate patients, visitors, and staff. “This expansion will enable us to expand our surgical specialties – such as spine and orthopedic surgeries – and offer patients access to nationally recognized specialists throughout UCHealth,” said UCHealth President and CEO Elizabeth B. Concordia. “The hospital’s master plan ensures the community will have the best care, close to home, for years to come.” Courtesy: UCHealth The project will encompass nearly 330,000 square feet of new construction, with about 45% of the space slated for immediate use and the rest designated as shelled space for future growth. According to UCHealth, the additional space will allow Memorial North to continue to grow its cancer center, adding clinical trials and advanced treatments The project is estimated at $407 million and will include: A new six-story inpatient tower will increase the hospital’s bed capacity from 140 to 190, with room to grow to 320 beds. Four new operating rooms in phase 1, with four more planned in future phases, for an eventual total of 18 ORs at the hospital. An expanded kitchen and dining space to better accommodate patients, visitors, and staff. A laboratory expansion. Space for an additional 12 emergency department exam rooms. Future expansion of imaging services. Renovation of the main lobby to incorporate the new tower. A 979-stall six-level parking structure to ensure sufficient parking for patients, visitors, and staff. Surface parking also will be expanded. The expansion will start with the parking garage with groundbreaking expected for 2025 and completed in 2027. The patient tower is expected to begin construction in 2026 with a projected completion in 2029.