Piedmont leaders, foundation donors, elected officials, along with members of the community gathered on Thursday to celebrate the completion of Piedmont Athens Regional’s new $194 million patient tower.

Part of a larger renovation and expansion project designed by SmithGroup and Trinity and executed by BDR Partners and DPR Construction, the nearly 229,000 square-feet tower is designed to serve as a physical and healing connection to the surrounding Athens community and allow for greater integration of care for patients who are part of Piedmont’s east clinical hub.

“We are excited to welcome the community to Piedmont Athens and to the new patient tower,” said Piedmont Athens Chief Executive Officer Michael Burnett. “We exist to serve Athens and surrounding communities and there is no greater way we can do that than by continuing to grow, innovate, and enhance access to care for everyone.” 

Construction was divided into two phases and kicked off in October 2018. Phase one included the addition of a new patient floor on the hospital’s existing Prince Tower Two. Phase two included the demolition of the 100-year old 1919 Tower and construction of a state-of-the-art patient tower. 

In addition to 128 modernized inpatient rooms, the new tower includes the Classic City Café, the Pink Posy gift shop, a retail pharmacy, the Sacred Space, a patient and family resource center, as well as inpatient and outpatient clinical program support areas.

The design of the tower emphasizes the feeling of connection, with the placement of outdoor courtyards and designated community spaces strategically within the building, as well as incorporating natural elements to encourage wellness for hospital staff, visitors, and patients. 

“With our design and construction partners, we have created spaces that promote healing for the patients we care for, the visitors and families we comfort, and the staff that provide that compassionate care and comfort,” said Burnett. “We are changing lives at Piedmont and opening this new space will help us to continue delivering on that.”