The new, environmentally friendly
Franklin Woods Community Hospital
Opening in 2010

The design of Franklin Woods Community Hospital will be unlike any other in the region or even the state. This new hospital will mix high-tech with a natural design. Rock formations will be utilized to take advantage of natural water flows. Trees will be incorporated in the facility and large amounts of glass will give everyone inside the hospital the illusion of being outside.

Franklin Woods will stive to be certified as a Leader in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) facility. LEED is a nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. This could be the first LEED-certified building in the region and one of just a handful of LEED-certified hospitals in the country. LEED certification provides an independent, third-party verification that a building project meets the council’s high performance standards and that the building is environmentally responsible and a healthy place to work.

Another important part of the new hospital will be the views. Hospital designers are making every effort to build the facility to take advantage of the beautiful views available from inside Med Tech Park while also keeping the natural surroundings in place. Each patient room will either have a view of the mountains or a view of the forest. Studies have shown medical facilities that offer patients natural views have improved outcomes with shorter lengths of stay.

While Franklin Woods Community Hospital is projected to open in the summer of 2010, the estimated cost for the entire project is approximately $122 million. The new hospital will have approximately 240,000 square feet and is to be built on a 25-acre lot adjacent to The Wellness Center inside Med Tech Park. It will have 80 licensed beds and a 22-room Emergency Department. Of the licensed beds, 20 will be dedicated as part of Women’s and Children’s Services.