Fishermen’s Community Hospital in the Florida Keys Raises First Tilt-up Walls

MARATHON, FL – April 20, 2020 – Construction of the new Fishermen’s Community Hospital has hit a huge milestone. This week, crews began erecting the tilt-walls, which will form the exterior of the main hospital building and equipment enclosures located around the site.

Tilt-wall construction combines the strength and durability of reinforced concrete with precision and efficiency. Currently, approximately 60 walls weighing roughly 60,000 pounds each are being hoisted into place by a crane. Depending on the size of the wall, each panel will take about 1 to 2 hours to raise. Once in the upright position, they will be attached to the foundation and secured with temporary bracing. Placement of the hospital’s tilt-walls is scheduled to be completed by the end of April.

“Seeing the walls of the new hospital go up is a significant indication of this community’s success and is a monumental occasion,” said Rick Freeburg, CEO of Fishermen’s Community Hospital. “It is going to be an extraordinary new hospital, thanks to so many who have supported this effort.”

The current modular facility, which was constructed after Hurricane Irma destroyed the original hospital, will continue to provide a broad range of healthcare services to the Middle Keys until the new hospital is completed.

About Fishermen’s Community Hospital
Fishermen’s Community Hospital is part of Baptist Health South Florida, the largest healthcare organization in the region, with 11 hospitals, more than 23,000 employees, 4,000 physicians and 100 outpatient centers, urgent care facilities and physician practices spanning across Miami-Dade, Monroe, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Baptist Health has internationally renowned centers of excellence in cancer, cardiovascular care, orthopedics and sports medicine, and neurosciences. In addition, it includes Baptist Health Medical Group; Baptist Health Quality Network; and Baptist Health Care On Demand, a virtual health platform. A not-for-profit organization supported by philanthropy and committed to its faith-based charitable mission of medical excellence, Baptist Health has been recognized by Fortune as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America and by Ethisphere as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies. For more information, visit BaptistHealth.net/Newsroom and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

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