Watertown, New York ----- Samaritan Medical Center has selected Hueber Breuer, a Syracuse-based company, as the contractor to build the four-level, 400-space parking garage on its Watertown medical campus. Site work for the parking garage, the first of four phases of Samaritan’s expansion and modernization project, is scheduled to begin within the next 2-3 weeks.

Construction of the parking garage will clear the way for Phase II of the project, the four-level, 112,000 square foot Patient Pavilion, which is slated to begin in Summer 2008. The Patient Pavilion will be located between the existing front entrance of the hospital and Washington Street, the area currently occupied by a patient/visitor parking lot.

Though the initial cost estimate for the parking garage was $5.9 million, the final bid was $7.2 million. “When the bids came in over our initial projections, we took some extra time to study all of our alternatives, including a smaller garage with less capacity, more ground parking, and other options,” explains SMC Spokesperson Krista A. Kittle. “However, when the cost of each option was calculated and the impact of each was considered, we ended up back at our original plan because it makes the most sense for our patients, visitors, neighbors, and our budget. Even though the cost exceeds original estimates, it is the right way to go for everyone affected.”

The increase in cost is attributed to increased demand and pricing for pre-cast concrete, a material being used for Samaritan’s parking garage. Additionally, soil conditions in the land on which the garage will be located require more significant site and foundation work than originally anticipated.

Site work is expected to begin before the end of August and will continue through early to mid December. Work is expected to halt through the winter months, resuming in early spring for a Summer 2008 completion.

Because of the size of the construction site, parking on the Samaritan campus will be affected. Hospital officials are developing an interim parking plan to open up additional spaces for patients and visitors, while employees will park at alternate off-site locations.

“We are doing everything possible to minimize the inconvenience to our patients, visitors and neighbors,” concludes Ms. Kittle. “Our employees will park at alternate locations, including the SMC Plaza. We ask everyone for their patience and understanding during this construction and encourage all to keep in mind the end-result of convenient, sheltered parking for our patients and visitors and an expanded, modern patient care facility for the community.”

# # #