New Universal Health Services Hospital Celebrates Topping Out
By Fay Harvey
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla.— Stakeholders of the Alan. B Miller Medical Center project gathered to celebrate the topping out of the Universal Health Services (UH) Hospital, signifying the end of vertical construction.
The hospital — which is named after Alan B. Miller, founder and executive chairman of UHS — will be the third hospital in northern Palm Beach County.
“Our purpose at UHS is to take care of patients and do so with excellence, integrity and by employing committed, talented individuals,” said Miller in a UHS statement. “We will carry out our duties with superior quality and by making decisions with patient care in mind at all times.”
The new hospital is keeping community in mind as North Palm Beach and Lake Park see a proliferation of construction on high-rise apartments and new homes, including a 4,000-home Avenir community in the western region. As of the 2020 U.S. Census, Palm Beach Gardens had grown to nearly 60,000 residents, with an annual growth rate of 1.75%, translating to an increased demand for healthcare services in the area.
The $430 million hospital will prioritize providing acute, short-term care for patients, including emergency services, orthopedic care and surgery. Other services include cardiology, oncology, obstetrics neurology, neurosurgery and maternity.
The seven-story hospital spans two podium levels, with the remaining five floors dedicated to patient units that offer 30 beds each. The project also includes a separate medical office building. Various support services range from administration to food service as well as other ancillary support spaces like admissions, surgical services and imaging. Given the increase in families moving to the area, the hospital’s third-level maternity ward will sit on the third floor, housing eight delivery rooms, 24 postpartum rooms, and a Level II neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) with the ability to expand from the current six to 12 NICU beds.
Though the project does not include a trauma center, emergency services will be available, and the structure will include helipad will serve as a point of pickup for patients who need to be transported to receive intensive care at other facilities.
A public park with greenery, fountains, walking trains, seating areas and an art installation will be located on the hospital grounds, with a separate outdoor courtyard area dedicated to staff.
Construction is being managed by N.Y.-based Turner Construction, while design and engineering are being completed by the Nashville-headquartered firm Gresham Smith and Partners. Construction continues to boost the local economy and the hospital will continue to offer economic benefits after construction concludes. The project is estimated to have created 1,500 jobs and will add 800 new healthcare jobs to the area when it opens.
“We are proud to reach this milestone in constructing the Alan B. Miller Medical Center, a facility that will enhance healthcare access for the community of Palm Beach Gardens,” said Christian Jahrling, vice president and general manager of Turner in a company statement. “This project exemplifies our commitment to delivering high-quality, patient-centered facilities, combining advanced healthcare infrastructure with thoughtful design to serve residents’ needs for years to come.”
The facility is slated for completion in 2026.