ASCENSION BEGINS LONGVIEW REGIONAL EXPANSION

LONGVIEW — Arlington-based Ascension Group Architects has begun the expansion and renovation of Longview Regional Medical Center, located in Longview. The 175,000-square-foot expansion includes 100 new acute care rooms, a three-story tower, third and fourth floors to the existing building and space for new physicians. The floors of the existing building will be renovated as well to make room for eight oncology beds on the first floor and moving 15 beds in the skilled nursing unit from the first floor to the second floor. Also, five maternity units will be added to the existing six units, and 13 antepartum/postpartum beds will be added to the existing 17. In the nursery, 10 bassinets will be added to bring the total to 24. The new expansion will also add four triage spaces and a C-section room. Birmingham, Ala.-based Robins & Morton is serving as general contractor for the expansion project, which will be built in phases and is slated for a late 2013 completion.