Lee Health officials celebrated progress Monday in the construction of its new $824 million Fort Myers hospital.
Thirteen months into the start of construction of the hospital at Jones Walker and Colonial boulevards, officials held a topping off ceremony to place the final beam in for phase one of the project. It also marked the groundbreaking for the west tower.
The new hospital will encompass 535,000 square feet of building space and will have 236 private patient rooms at opening, targeted for fall 2028. The future bed count is 260 at full capacity.
“It’s really a defining milestone for this campus and the important work that’s happening throughout Southwest Florida as we advance health care in the region,” Dr. Larry Antonucci, president and chief executive officer of Lee Health, said.
“The new hospital is one of the most significant investments that we have ever made at Lee Health over the many years of our history. And it’s more than just a building. It’s really a bold commitment to health and well being for a very rapidly growing region,” he said.
Lee Health Fort Myers will replace the aging Lee Memorial Hospital on Cleveland Avenue, which will be closed around the time the new hospital opens.
The $3.5 billion hospital system operates four acute care hospitals with more than 1,800 beds and a regional 135-bed children’s hospital. It is Lee County’s largest employer with a workforce of 17,000.
No decision has been made for the future use of the Lee Memorial campus, Dave Kistel, vice president and chief facilities executive for Lee Health, said.
Construction of the new hospital is going well, he said.
“It’s been a great project,” he said. “It’s a wonderful team and a wonderful community.”
Students from nearby Ray Pottorf Elementary School and Paul Lawrence Dunbar Middle School are engaging in learning experiences at the site that has included painting concrete panels, he said.
Fourth and fifth graders come once a month to learn about different career paths, everything from engineering to plumbing, said Brandy Macchia, principal at Ray V. Pottorf.
Lee Health nursing staff are tasked with providing key insights on the design of nurses’ stations, patient rooms, equipment and supply rooms so their work environment will flow well for them and for patient care, Renee McCauley, chief nursing and operations executive, said.
“It’s really important for staff to provide first-hand input,” she said.
How big is the project?
The new hospital on the south side of Colonial boulevard has a can’t-miss presence already.
On average there are 700 workers a day on the construction site, Kistel said.
“The majority of that workforce comes from Southwest Florida,” he said.
Since groundbreaking in January 2025, 33,000 cubic yards of concrete has been poured and 360 tons of steel have gone into the building, he said.
So far, 720,000 man hours have gone into the construction, said Bob Kramer, vice president of accounting manager for Skanska, the general contractor.
Construction is targeted for completion in summer 2028 with a “move in” slated for fall 2028.
Patient rooms will feature the latest in smart technology for what’s called “connected care” rooms to enhance the patient experience.
The new hospital has been designed to withstand hurricanes and will be elevated with redundant electrical systems and a full-facility generator.
Liz Freeman is a health care reporter. Reach her by emailing lfreeman@naplesnews.com
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This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Lee Health hits milestone in $824M hospital project in Fort Myers
Reporting by Liz Freeman, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Naples Daily News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
