The newly constructed Enumclaw Regional Hospital, set to open in early 2010, will give the community an acute-care facility that is twice as large as the existing hospital.

“Our state-of-the-art replacement hospital will feature the newest technology and innovative design, ensuring that our community has access to advanced medicine and trusted care for generations,” said David Rice, MD, radiologist and president of the medical staff at Enumclaw Regional Hospital.

Following the invitation-only groundbreaking ceremony Sept. 18, the hospital is sponsoring several free public events on Saturday, Sept. 20 to celebrate the start of the new facility. These will include:

• Senior Health and Wellness Expo, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Field House (Old Pete’s Pool), Enumclaw Expo Center, 28511 Highway 410 E. This event is organized by the Enumclaw Senior Activity Center.
• A health talk on how to raise “fit” children by best-selling author and renowned speaker Joe Piscatella, 10:30 a.m., Enumclaw Public Library, 1700 1st St. Call 1-888-825-3227 to reserve your seat.
• Free family swim, 12-6 p.m., Enumclaw Aquatic Center, 420 Semanski St. (No reservations needed)
• Free movie – “Kung Fu Panda” – 7 p.m., Chalet Theater, 1721 Wells St. Call 1-888-825-3227 for free tickets.
• Free concert by Bobby Medina and the Red Hot Band, 7:30 p.m., Field House (Old Pete’s Pool), Enumclaw Expo Center, 28511 Highway 410 E. Call 1-888-825-3227 for free tickets.

The newly constructed hospital, which will have 90,000 square feet of space, will be directly across Battersby Avenue from the existing facility. The estimated cost of the project is $65 million, which will be paid by Franciscan Health System and Denver-based Catholic Health Initiatives. Enumclaw Regional Hospital, which opened in 1949, joined the Tacoma-based Franciscan organization in May 2007.

The new hospital will offer all the services that the hospital now provides and include the newest medical and diagnostic imaging equipment. It will also feature:

• All private patient rooms designed for the comfort of patients and their visitors
• Eastside rooms with views of the foothills; westside rooms with views of the healing garden
• Newest medical technology
• Rooftop helipad for emergency transports
• Chapel for prayer and meditation
• Nearly triple the number of parking spaces
• Plenty of space for additional and expanded services to meet the future needs of the community.

The new hospital will also incorporate a number of environment-friendly “green” features, among them the use of sustainable building materials, non-toxic paint, energy-efficient mechanical and lighting systems, 100 percent outside air, low-flush toilets, and landscaping bioswales to capture and filter rainwater. As a result, the new Enumclaw Regional Hospital will be the first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)-certified hospital in Washington State.

In addition to providing primary and acute medical care, the new hospital could serve as a community gathering place in times of windstorms, power outages and other emergencies. Once the new structure is completed, the old hospital will be torn down and a parking lot built on the site.

Mahlum Architects, one of the most respected design firms in the Pacific Northwest, designed the replacement hospital. Sellen Co. is the general contractor for the construction project.

In addition to Enumclaw Regional Hospital, the Franciscan Health System includes St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma; St. Francis Hospital in Federal Way; St. Clare Hospital in Lakewood; St. Anthony Hospital in Gig Harbor (opening early 2009); and Franciscan Medical Group clinics in King, Pierce and Kitsap Counties. Enumclaw Medical Center is part of the Franciscan Medical Group