2024 BuildCMH Expansion Project progress
The BuildCMH Expansion Project hit a major milestone when ground was broken for the project at a ceremony in October 2024.
Joining Dr. Robert Holland, president of the hospital’s Board of Trustees, CEO Erik Thorsen, and other Board members at the ceremony were U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici from the First Congressional District of Oregon, Nate Stice, regional solutions coordinator for the Office of Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, Oregon Sen. Suzanne Weber, Oregon Rep. Cyrus Javadi, former Oregon Sen. Betsy Johnson, Astoria Mayor Sean Fitzpatrick, and members of Oregon Health & Science University’s executive leadership team, in addition to many other special guests.
The expansion is the culmination of more than a decade of strategic planning and due diligence by the hospital’s Board of Trustees. With the new construction, the hospital will grow from 56,000 square feet to 182,000 square feet.
The size of the expanded facility will help preserve patient dignity and privacy by creating private corridors, larger inpatient rooms with private bathrooms, and more space in registration areas. Floors will include a critically needed expansion of the Emergency Department, expanded Surgery and Imaging Departments, spa-like birth suites in the Labor and Delivery Unit, a new Observation Unit, and dedicated caregiver respite areas.
In addition, there will be resiliency features included such as the region’s first Tsunami Vertical Evacuation Structure and a deep pile foundation, so the facility can withstand and maintain operations during a natural disaster.
The architect and designer for the project is ZGF Architects, and the general contractor is Skanska USA. Anticipated opening of the expansion is Fall 2027.
Site preparation
The initial site preparation for the expansion started in mid-2024, marking an exciting step in CMH’s growth.
The first steps included demolishing Warehouse F and the bus barn by the Cancer Center, in addition to moving water lines, burying power lines and creating a new parking lot with 100+ spaces west of the Cancer Center.
Bond issuance
In May, CMH sold the bonds to fund a large majority of the expansion. Throughout the spring, CMH leaders and the project team prepared for rating agency presentations before the bond sale.
Based on the interest generated from the hospital’s unique story and the strength of its financial history, the $200 million bond offering generated many offers.
CMH was able to negotiate very competitive rates, resulting in a total issuance cost that was less than expected.
Looking ahead
In 2025, we’ll start facility construction and begin defining department workflows.
We want to say thank you to former project director, Randy McClelland, for his work on the project up until his retirement in late October 2024. Randy brought the project from planning to construction, and we are grateful for his diligent work in getting us to the groundbreaking.