Sentinel staff report–
Summer officially arrived on Friday, but the long-anticipated spring opening of Dignity Health’s three-story medical office building in Citrus Heights is still yet to occur.
In an update to The Sentinel last month, Dignity Health spokeswoman Brooke Burgess said an opening date for the entire building is now expected to happen later this fall. Although an earlier date of spring 2019 was originally anticipated, Burgess said “we’re taking the time to ensure it’s done right and to ensure it’s optimized to feature the latest technology and patient care equipment.”
She said a major milestone in construction progress was accomplished last month with the installation of a massive 26,000-pound air conditioning unit that was placed on the roof using a crane. Drone footage of the install is available on the Dignity Health Medical Foundation’s Vimeo page.
Burgess said construction is being prioritized from the top floor down, meaning the third and second floors are further along in construction than the first floor.
As of last month, she said drywall on the top two floors had been installed and work was beginning on ceiling tiles, lights, doors and hardware, flooring, plumbing fixtures and casework. Crews were still finishing the first floor wall framing and overhead work, Burgess said.
When complete, the massive 68,000-square-foot building will offer primary and specialty care services, and is expected to bring 170 professional jobs to the city.
The medical office building project was approved unanimously by the City Council in March 2015, but construction stalled until mid-2017. The site was once home to the old City Hall, which was demolished at the corner of Greenback Lane and Fountain Square Drive to allow for the new medical building to be constructed in its place.
According to Dignity Health, the new medical building will be home to 50 physicians and additional staff, with services offered including dermatology and endocrinology, family medicine, optometry, pain management, and pediatrics.
Burgess said additional details about a grand opening ceremony will be released later this year.