WVU Medicine Celebrates Construction Milestone on New Outpatient Surgery Center in Bridgeport
BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. — WVU Medicine United Hospital Center and its project partners recently marked a major construction milestone on a new outpatient surgery center that will expand access to surgical care in North Central West Virginia.
Representatives from WVU Medicine, United Hospital Center, DeAngelis Diamond, Studio+, Arthrex and other project partners gathered on the UHC campus to celebrate the facility's topping out ceremony, which signifies the placement of the final structural steel beam on the building.
The new two-story, 62,000-square-foot outpatient surgery center is being constructed adjacent to United Hospital Center in Bridgeport. Once completed, the facility will feature eight outpatient operating rooms, preoperative and postoperative recovery areas, and support spaces designed to enhance the patient experience and improve care delivery.
Hospital officials say the project represents a significant investment in the future of healthcare throughout the region. The building's second floor has been designed with future growth in mind, allowing additional services and programs to be added as community needs continue to evolve.
"This milestone brings us one step closer to transforming how we deliver surgical care to our region," said Dr. David Hess, president and CEO of United Hospital Center and Central Region president of the WVU Health System. "This state-of-the-art facility is designed entirely around the patient experience, offering convenient, world-class outpatient surgical services right here at home."
The topping out tradition is a longstanding construction custom observed when a building reaches its maximum structural height. During the ceremony, team members and project partners were invited to sign the final steel beam before it was lifted into place atop the structure. An evergreen tree, along with American and project team flags, were also secured to the beam as symbols of good fortune and pride in the project.
Construction leaders noted the scale of the effort already underway. To date, crews have installed approximately 375 tons of structural steel, poured 900 cubic yards of concrete and logged more than 15,000 labor hours on the project. At peak construction, the site is expected to support as many as 120 workers.
Project leaders also highlighted the economic impact the development is already generating through local employment and construction activity, with many workers involved in the project living and working in the surrounding community.
When completed, the outpatient surgery center will further expand healthcare services available on the UHC campus while positioning the hospital system for future growth in one of West Virginia's fastest-growing regions.
A video from the topping out ceremony can be viewed below.
