Photo: ESa struck the balance between functionality and budget by applying lean square footage and bed metrics, avoiding unnecessary overbuilding. | Photo Credit: AdventHealth
By Lindsey Coulter.
MINNEOLA, Fla. — Residents in Minneola and South Lake County now have access to whole-person, compassionate hospital care close to home with the opening of AdventHealth Minneola. The new 80-bed, 205,000-square-foot hospital, designed by ESa and built by Brasfield Gorrie, serves as replicable template that the health system can use across different markets, helping to accelerate speed to market and maintain cost control without compromising quality, according to ESa.
“Our goal is simple — to make sure families never have to leave home to receive trusted, compassionate care that helps them heal in body, mind and spirit,” said Kay Barnett, CEO of AdventHealth Minneola, in a statement. “We know how important it is for patients to be surrounded by their loved ones during times of healing. This hospital ensures that South Lake County families can stay close to home while receiving the exceptional care AdventHealth is known for nationwide.”
AdventHealth Minneola, the ninth hospital in the AdventHealth Central Florida Division, offers a full-service emergency department, comprehensive imaging and diagnostic services, five operating suites and endoscopy services, an outpatient laboratory and heart catheterization labs. Patient rooms are divided between critical care and general medical/surgical rooms. Together, these services address a significant need in South Lake County, where nearly half of residents currently travel outside the area for inpatient care, according to the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA).
“This marks a new chapter for health care in South Lake County,” said Dr. Miles Bennett, Chief Medical Officer at AdventHealth Minneola in a statement. “Our team of skilled physicians and specialists is here to deliver advanced medical expertise with uncommon compassion the kind that reflects our mission to extend the healing ministry of Christ and help every person feel whole.”
Located within a growing community hub surrounded by homes, parks and local businesses, the hospital was designed to serve as a cornerstone for wellness and connection. Construction is also underway on an adjacent medical office building that will offer outpatient services in gastroenterology, urology, oncology, cardiology, general and vascular surgery, orthopedics, sports medicine, and rehabilitation, outpatient laboratory and pharmacy — further expanding access to care for South Lake residents.
The design prioritizes flexibility and efficiency. ESa took a “kit of parts” approach to the design process that will allow the client to scale up or down according to community healthcare needs without impacting while AdventHealth’s brand or operational standards. The team struck the balance between functionality and budget by applying lean square footage and bed metrics, avoiding unnecessary overbuilding. According to ESa, prefabrication strategies helped to streamline construction and reduce waste.