WUFT News News and Public Media for North Central Florida from the University of Florida in Gainesville
Construction of two new UF Health Shands hospital buildings is ahead of schedule.
The buildings are being constructed as two towers connected by the same building, with one tower for heart and cardiovascular diseases treatment and the other for neuromedicine. The project costs about $400 million.
Brad Pollitt, the vice president of UF Health facilities, said the hospitals are necessary as UF Health Shands draws in people from across Florida and the southeastern U.S.
“Our specialists are sought after and we need more bed capacity in order to help them get the patients in,” Pollitt said.
The buildings will include the latest medical technology and equipment in the hundreds of patient rooms.
Chris Kreifels, the project executive from Skanska, which is building the hospitals, said the new buildings will help with hospital staff efficiency.
“This building is going to save lives, and when we turn it over and it starts to operate and function that’s just a great feeling,” Kreifels said.
