On May 22, 2011, an EF-5 tornado hit the city of Joplin, Mo. and Mercy Hospital was in its path. Today, a new hospital is under construction at 50th Street and Hearnes Boulevard. On May 22, 2011, an EF-5 tornado hit the city of Joplin, Mo. and Mercy Hospital was in its path. Today, a new hospital is under construction at 50th Street and Hearnes Boulevard.
With a construction budget of $335 million, the 825,000-square-foot hospital will replace the former St. John’s Mercy Medical Center that was destroyed. The new facility will have 261 beds initially, but will later be expanded to 309.
Oklahoma City-based Saratoga Roofing & Construction was awarded the roofing contract on the new facility, estimated at $4 million. Saratoga, an AGC of Oklahoma Building Chapter member, will begin working on the hospital in February 2013.
Of the 189 people inside the hospital on May 22, 2011, six people died, five patients and one visitor. The five patients who died were on ventilators. Flying debris disabled generators and the power failed, and the ventilators stopped. Other patients died from storm-related injuries later. The new hospital will be designed to ensure that won’t happen again.
The plans show a 12-foot-by-12 foot underground tunnel that will connect the utility plant to the hospital. To ensure the new hospital does not lose power, all the utility lines leading to the hospital will be in that tunnel.
Earlier this year they demolished the old hospital and broke ground at the new site. The new hospital is to be completed in March 2015.
"Though the tornado took our hospital, it did not destroy our spirit," according to Sisters of Mercy's website. "Mercy is rising again in Joplin."
For more information, contact: Saratoga Roofing & Construction, Denver Green, President, 405.692.6100, Denver@saratogaroofing.com or Craig Dallas, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Craigd@saratogaroofing.com.
Associated General Contractors of America