Aurora Health Care Inc. is planning a large expansion of its Grafton medical center − including a new mid-rise tower.
The nonprofit health care provider’s proposal calls for a 125,000-square foot addition, according to plans filed with the Village of Grafton
That features a five-story building with 84 new private patient suites and an expanded emergency department, according to those plans and Aurora’s announcement. The hospital is at 975 Port Washington Road.
The Grafton Plan Commission will review the proposal at its next meeting, said Jessica Wolff, community development director. That’s scheduled for Oct. 21.
The commission in August reviewed plans for a new parking lot, at 960 Badger Circle, that would be built in advance of the proposed expansion. It has 310 spaces, according to the Village of Grafton’s development website.
Aurora plans to begin preparing for the expansion’s construction in the coming months. The addition is to be completed by the third quarter of 2027, according to Aurora’s filing.
An Aurora representative declined to provide the project’s cost estimate.
“This expansion reflects our ongoing commitment and investment in Wisconsin and to providing exceptional care while meeting the growing needs of those we are privileged to serve,” said Aurora Health Care President Gabrielle Finley-Hazle, in a statement.
“We look forward to continuing our tradition of excellence and making a meaningful difference in the lives of our patients and communities,” she said.
Aurora opened the Grafton hospital in 2010.
It features the highest level neonatal intensive care unit (Level II) in Ozaukee County, according to Aurora. The hospital’s other services include enhanced cardiac, cancer, orthopedics and stroke care.
The Village Board in 2021 approved an $8 million, 16-bed expansion.
Aurora’s other pending project include plans to convert a historic former Milwaukee school, 2708 W. Wisconsin Ave., into a $50 million community health and wellness hub.
Aurora says said the hub fulfills a pledge made nearly three years ago to open a new “institute for health equity” in Milwaukee.
The pledge was made when Aurora’s parent company, Advocate Aurora Health, announced it would merge with Atrium Health in 2022.
The merged system is based in Charlotte, North Carolina, but it promised to maintain a “strong organizational presence” in Milwaukee.
Tom Daykin can be emailed at tdaykin@jrn.com and followed on Instagram, Bluesky, X and Facebook.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Aurora Health Care plans large expansion for its Grafton hospital. It features 84 new rooms
Reporting by Tom Daykin, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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