HASTINGS — Preparations will begin soon for a planned $22-million addition to the Mary Lanning Healthcare Medical Services Building (MSB).
Mark Callahan, MLH Chief Operating Officer, said the project, which will double the size of the current building, is set to begin this fall, with ground breaking tentatively planned for October. However, he said, work will be done prior to the ground breaking so that services and clinics currently located in the MSB can continue to operate during construction.
The project, which is slated to take about 18 months, will add 64,803 square feet to the 63,957-squarefoot building. The building currently houses an opthamology clinic, the MLH Wound Center, Nebraska Heart Institute, Bryan Heart — Mary Lanning Cardiology, several MLH clinics, MLH Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, the MLH Education Department and School of Radiologic Technology.
Callahan said MLH currently is working to finalize an agreement which would place Bryan School of Nursing on the third floor of the addition. Other spaces will be occupied by MLH-owned clinics. Once the addition is complete, the building will be called the Mary Lanning Healthcare Medical Office Building.
“We are ready to welcome the Bryan School of Nursing to campus and are happy to partner with Bryan to complete this project, which has been in the planning stages for some time,” Callahan said.
Preparation work includes closing the MSB south entrance and creating a main entrance on the north side of the building. The north entrance will include a canopy and large doors. Upgrades will be made to the current fire alarm systems and elevators and the current parking lot will be reconfigured. Parking directly south of the current entrance will be blocked off and fenced to allow for safe construction. Other work includes relocation of a water line and construction of new parking areas.
Employees and the public should watch for updates coming soon on parking and entrance work. “Any type of construction can be a disruption,” Callahan said,” but with the planning and preparation work, we hope to mitigate any possible issues and make the project as seamless as possible.”