ATLANTA — Construction on a new building at Piedmont Hospital is expected to be finished within the next three months.
Channel 2 Anchor Justin Farmer got an exclusive first look inside the new expansion now towering over Peachtree and Collier roads.
Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus provided $75 million of seed money to get the $450 million project off the ground. The building is 16 stories, with 13 above ground and three below. The new wing has more operating rooms, a helipad and more patient rooms.
Piedmont Atlanta CEO and heart surgeon Dr. Phil Battey said the building will open in May and will be treating its first patients by August.
"The goal was really always be patient first," Battey said. "So patients' experience, flow and interact with the staff in the hospital."
Battey said the new helipad and elevator system can get someone from the helipad to an operating room in less than two minutes.
Piedmont Health CEO Kevin Brown also gave Farmer a tour of one of the new patient rooms. One part of the patient experience that is even apparent from the street? Lots of windows.
"There's been data that shows daylight helps patients heal faster, and in a building like this, you're able to bring the outside inside," Brown said. "It will help with healing process but is also a great amenity for patients and their families."
Brown said soon, drivers can breathe a sigh of relief, too. The hospital is working with the city to ease traffic woes in the area.
“We made enhancements to that terrible turn off Peachtree to Collier,” Brown said. “We’ve deeded that land to the city so we can enhance the flow of traffic.”
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