Beginning at 6 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 3, the emergency department at the prior location for UAB Medical West (995 Ninth Ave. SW in Bessemer) will permanently close its doors, and all patients currently admitted will be transported by ambulance to the new location at 5000 Medical West Way in Bessemer.

“We are thrilled to begin this new chapter for UAB Medical West and our community,” said UAB Medical West CEO Keith Pennington. “Over the past year, we have developed plans and strategies alongside Regional Paramedical Services, Bessemer Police Department, McAdory Fire, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Jefferson County transportation and UAB Critical Care Transport to ensure our patient move on Saturday, Aug. 3, goes as smoothly as possible.”

UAB West CEO Keith Pennington (UAB)

The new building includes a 412,000-square-foot, nine-story hospital with 200 beds and a 127,000-square-foot, seven-story medical office building. The facility features a new surgical and endoscopy suite, including robotic surgery and 12 operating rooms, state-of-the-art imaging technology and more intensive care beds.

“To move to our new campus marks a novel chapter for our health care facility,” Pennington said. “Our replacement facility offers west Jefferson County residents and beyond access to unparalleled technology, health care and services that will meet our patients where they are. We could not be prouder to continue the legacy of UAB Medical West and continue to grow and serve.”

The new facility is designed around nature. Each floor is represented by flora native to Alabama, with photography and artwork throughout the hospital created by Alabama artists and curated by Gallery Services. The site features a pond with walking trails and the building has floor-to-ceiling windows in patient rooms, rocking chairs and fireplaces.

“This is a true space of wellness and healing, not only for patients but for our staff members, visitors and our entire community,” Pennington said.

In 2017, Cushman & Wakefield/EGS Commercial Real Estate of Birmingham was engaged for site selection for the 46-acre development site off Exit 1 on I-459 in Bessemer/McCalla. Funded by the USDA, the total investment in the project is $400 million. Assisting in the financial efforts are Concourse, Raymond James, Thornton Farish, PNC Bank, GNC and Maynard, Cooper & Gale.

Johnson Development was the project manager for the new UAB Medical West hospital. The design and build team included Brasfield & Gorrie as the general contractor; HKS and KPS as the architects; and CCI, Bhate Geosciences and Building & Earth as the site engineers.

This story originally appeared on the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s UAB News website.