UPMC Chautauqua WCA Starts Addition Construction

The $20 million construction of a new two-story addition to create a women's and maternity care center and inpatient adolescent and adult mental health units at UPMC Chautauqua WCA has started.

Cecil Miller, UPMC Chautauqua WCA vice president of operations, said the 18,000-square-foot addition construction project began Oct. 30 with the demolishing of the ambulance parking garage. He said by the end of next week, the demolition work will be completed. He added that the new two-story addition will extend the current front of UPMC Chautauqua WCA's Foote Avenue facility.

Miller said during construction, a new temporary ambulance entrance was created, which has been communicated to area EMS, police and public safety officials. Also during the construction project, hospital officials are offering free valet parking from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Betsy Wright, UPMC Chautauqua WCA president and chief executive officer, said the valet parking is particularly for patients, with the visitors parking lot still accessible across the street from the hospital. She said patients at the hospital after 6 p.m. will have their car moved to the emergency department parking lot, with the keys giving to the security guards. The valet is stationed in a blue and yellow booth that is easy to see when entering the emergency department.

"We're trying to keep it as easy as possible for the patients so they have access to world class care," Wright said.

Miller said they are hoping construction crews will be able to get as much done as possible before the weather changes to winter. He said construction work will continue through the winter months. He added that they are using a lot of local subcontractors on the project to help the local economy.

LeChase Construction is the contractor for the addition and Clark Patterson Lee handled the project design.

Wright said the $20 million project was possible because of the $24.6 million grant the hospital received from the state in March 2016. She said the grant money not used for the addition project will be used for additional infrastructure improvements.

"We appreciate that we received the state grant to do this," she said.

The project is expected to be completed by May 2019, Wright said. She said it is exciting to see the changes to the hospital. She added that it is great that they will be able to bring their inpatient adult and adolescent mental health care units from Jones Memorial Health Center on Glasgow Avenue to the Foote Avenue facility.

"We believe the new maternity services will be state-of-the art," Wright said.