Providence, Rhode Island-based Gilbane Building Co. began construction on March 21 for a $410 million project to replace the existing Cape Canaveral Hospital in Brevard County, Florida, the company announced.
Situated on Florida’s Space Coast near the Atlantic Ocean, the new facility is designed to withstand Category 4 hurricanes and will be elevated 13 feet above sea level to protect against storm surges.
Construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, with the hospital’s official opening planned for early 2027. Gilbane is collaborating with several partners, including St. Louis-based Lawrence Group for design, Chicago-based Concord Group for project management, and Golden, Colorado-based BCER for engineering.
The groundbreaking for the new Cape Canaveral Hospital campus takes place just two weeks after Newsweek included Cape Canaveral Hospital in its 2024 “Best Hospitals” list—marking the fourth consecutive year it has earned this honor. Cape Canaveral is one of only three hospitals in Central Florida and 17 statewide to receive this recognition.
The project includes both a new hospital and a medical office building. The 268,000-square-foot hospital will feature 120 private inpatient beds, 25 emergency department treatment rooms, and six operating rooms. The three-story, 92,000-square-foot medical office building will accompany it. A central energy plant on-site will ensure uninterrupted power, even during severe weather.
Built to Withstand Disaster
The new Cape Canaveral Hospital’s design incorporates several features to help it withstand and function during hurricanes, including:
Hurricane Resistance
- Designed to withstand a Category 4 hurricanehttps://www.gilbaneco.com/about/whats-new/news/health-first-and-gilbane-building-company-have-officially-broken-ground-on-the-new-cape-canaveral-hospital-and-medical-office-building-in-merritt-island/
- Built to endure wind speeds up to 200 miles per hour, based on similar hurricane-resistant hospital designshttps://toolkit.climate.gov/case-studies/retrofitting-childrens-hospital-hurricane-resistant-shell
Flood Protection
- Entire campus will be constructed 13 feet above sea level to withstand storm surgeshttps://www.gilbaneco.com/about/whats-new/news/health-first-and-gilbane-building-company-have-officially-broken-ground-on-the-new-cape-canaveral-hospital-and-medical-office-building-in-merritt-island/
- Elevated design protects against flooding and storm surge common during hurricanes
Power Continuity
- On-site central energy plant to ensure continuous power function during tropical storms and hurricanes
- Backup power systems allow critical operations to continue even if main power is disrupted
Structural Reinforcement
- Likely uses impact-resistant windows and strengthened roof, similar to other hurricane-resistant hospitals
- May incorporate reinforced exterior panels or walls to create a protective shell around the building
Operational Readiness
- Design allows for continuation of care during storms, with evacuation decisions made on a case-by-case basis in consultation with state officials
- Facility can potentially serve as a refuge for staff, patients, and even community members during severe storms
By incorporating these resilient design elements, the new Cape Canaveral Hospital will be better equipped to withstand hurricane conditions, maintain critical operations, and serve the community during extreme weather events that are common in coastal Florida.
Closing Thoughts
Additionally, the campus will feature a three-deck parking structure.
Several other major healthcare projects are also underway. In February, a joint venture between St. Louis-based McCarthy and Texas-based Vaughn Construction was awarded a contract to build a $5 billion replacement pediatric campus for Children’s Health in Dallas. In January, a Turner Construction joint venture broke ground on a $550 million hospital in San Antonio, Texas.
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