LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The dream for healthcare in an underserved community is another step closer of becoming a reality.
Norton Healthcare officials applauded an important milestone in the construction of the Norton West Louisville Hospital.
For months, crews have been hard at work laying the foundation and preparing the underground utilities for the facility. They even installed the first beam just two weeks ago.
Once complete, hundreds of pieces of steel weighing nearly 600 tons will support the next stages of construction.
The building’s skin is scheduled to be installed in mid to late October with the roof to follow.
Norton leaders said the hospital will be key in their mission to combat health inequity.
“We define what buildings are going to look like, but what defines us is by what happens in these buildings. And what Norton Healthcare wants to be defined as, is an organization that was willing to step up and make certain that access was provided,” Russell Cox, president and CEO, said.
Norton also released renderings of what the interior would look like upon completion.
Norton Healthcare releases interior renderings of hospital in west Louisville
During construction, Norton is partnering with the Louisville Urban League’s Kentuckiana Builds program and Harmon/Messer Construction’s Urban Workforce Development Initiative to create job and career opportunities for women and minorities in the community.
“I’m proud to be part of this project and my community," participant Houston Briscoe said. "It’s going to make a real difference for people here. It’s been a second chance for me to be productive and create something for myself and my family.”
Norton said recruitment for hospital employees will begin in late spring or early summer 2024 and the facility expected to open later that year.
“Over the next year and half you’ll see this corner of hope come to fruition," hospital chief administrative officer Corenza Townsend said.
The hospital, the first west of Ninth Street in more than a century, will include a 24/7 emergency department, inpatient treatment with 20 beds to start, operating rooms, imaging services, including X-ray, CT and MRI; and a pharmacy.
Outpatient services feature adult and pediatric primary care, OBGYN, cardiology, orthopedics, diabetes care and behavioral health services.
The hospital is part of Goodwill’s Opportunity Campus.
To check the progress of construction, click here.
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