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FROM STAFF REPORTS

MARBLE FALLS — Construction on the hospital tower for the Baylor Scott & White Hospital-Marble Falls, located off U.S. 281 on Texas 71, continues to make progress as workers reached a milestone May 16 after crews “topped out” the building’s structure with a ceremonial tree, according to a hospital news release.

The hospital is part of the Hurd Regional Medical Center and is a 46-bed, 188,000-square-foot, four-story facility that is scheduled to be complete in early 2015.

Officials said they marked the progress on the facility with a “traditional placing of a tree at the highest level of the structure,” according to the release.

The hospital will house a 24-hour emergency department, 30 medical/surgical hospital beds, intensive care services, maternity services, endoscopic procedure suites, operating rooms and other specialty services supported by a pharmacy, comprehensive state-of-the-art imaging technology and other diagnostic capabilities.

The construction involved General Contractor, Medco Construction and Jacobs Engineering Group. About 125 trade workers are currently employed at the site, and that number is expected to increase to 400 as the project progresses.

The new hospital will cover about 4.3 acres of enclosed space, supported by 9,000 cubic yards of concrete and 900 tons of steel. The facility façade will be composed of stone and brick veneer with architectural cast stone trim and curtain wall.

“The magnitude of such an enormous undertaking and what it means to the future of patient care here in the Hill Country hits me every time I step foot on the site,” said Bramer Owens, interim chief executive officer of Baylor Scott & White-Hill Country Region.

Underground site utilities work is nearing completion including the cooperation of Pedernales Electric Cooperative and the City of Marble Falls on the installation of street lighting. Pouring of concrete for Scott & White Boulevard and other subdivision roads is ongoing, while work continues on parking lots on the hospital site.

“This hospital symbolizes Baylor Scott & White’s continued commitment to the community and fosters our ability to deliver a continuity of care to our residents here in the Hill Country,” said Randall Grimshaw, chief medical officer of Baylor Scott & White-Hill Country Region.

editor@thepicayune.com