First Full-Service Hospital in 30 Years Opens in St. Louis

ST. LOUIS — SSM St. Clare Health Center, the first full-service hospital in St. Louis County in 30 years, opened its doors in for the first time this year.


The new $236 million, 154-bed hospital has an emergency department and a variety of surgical and medical services, including heart, cancer orthopedics and women’s care.


HGA Inc., of Milwaukee, served as architect. Natural light, outdoor views and courtyards are incorporated to improve the patient and staff experience. The facility also features an electronic medication administration system, decentralized nursing pods and private patient rooms with family accommodations.


Input from hospital staff was gathered during the design process with the use of a mock patient room, which allowed staff to see how fixtures and equipment would fit into the design scheme.


Amenities in the final design of patient rooms include wood-grain cabinets that hide equipment and provide a more homely environment, in-room sofas, flat-screen TVs, wireless Internet connectivity and a private refrigerator.


Kwame Building Group, a construction company based in St. Louis, and NorthStar Construction Management Inc., of Allentown, Pa., served as the project management team.