"Our major capital investment will allow us to continue to respond to the growing health care needs of the community," says David P. Tilton, president and CEO of the hospital, which began as a 10-bed facility in 1898.

The centerpiece of the project is a new seven-story, 198,000-sf tower that will rise adjacent to the existing main hospital building. Work will begin later this year and is expected to be completed in early 2008. According to Tilton, the new tower will include new emergency and radiology departments, a new ICU, two medical/surgical floors, a rooftop helipad and two floors designated for the future expansion of existing departments.

The project also includes the renovation of 26,000 sf of existing hospital space. And a pedestrian walkway will be built to connect the hospital with Caesar's Transportation Center across Michigan Avenue.

Granary Associates of Philadelphia is the lead architect for the project, and locally based Sykes, O'Connor, Salerno and Hazaveh is the associate architect. LF Driscoll, a Philadelphia firm with a substantial track record in hospital and healthcare projects, is the construction manager.

The expansion/renovation is being carried out with substantial amount of government assistance. While the specific amount hasn't been disclosed, the city, the State of New Jersey and the federal government are all involved.

The latest project continues an aggressive capital improvement program involving the hospital's various facilities, now topping the $150-million mark. In September 2003, AtlantiCare started work on a $35-million, 67,500-sf expansion at the hospital's Mainland Campus in Pomona, a project slated for completion in early summer. The company has also built a new $14.5-million satellite complex in Egg Harbor Township.