Kennedy University Hospital unveiled the results of an $80 million, two-year-long renovation of its Cherry Hill campus.
CHERRY HILL -- A two-year-long renovation at Kennedy University Hospital came to a close Tuesday, as the hospital revealed a sparkling, $80 million addition to its Cherry Hill campus.
The day marked the end of the first phase of renovations at the campus. Several hundred people, including hospital administrators, doctors, nurses, community members and elected officials, arrived at the new building for a ribbon cutting ceremony, taking advantage of the opportunity to tour the new halls.
After years of planning and construction, the unveiling felt surreal to many involved.
"It feels spectacular," Joseph Devine, the president and CEO of Kennedy Health, said as several hundred people gathered beneath white tents before the ceremony. "I asked the team to do something special and it ended up being something spectacular."
The renovations revealed Tuesday are the first part of a two-phase renovation intended to bring Cherry Hill and surrounding South Jersey communities a warm, welcoming, state-of-the-art hospital fit for the region, Devine said.
"Today, we mark a great celebration, not just for Kennedy, but for South Jersey," he said.
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The new construction features a 22,000-square-foot atrium lobby with a cafe, gift shop, and community spaces, where those visiting the hospital can find quiet places to sit or gather with family and friends across the five floors.
The atrium connects to a 102,000-square-feet medical office building, which will house ambulatory services and specialists, including rehabilitation services, sleep specialists, laboratory services, physicians offices, and a hyperbaric wound center. A new parking garage with 600 spaces adjoins the new building through a long hallway.
The building stands on what was previously the employee parking lot. The oldest of the hospital chain's three branches, the Cherry Hill campus was originally built in 1960, and had not seen a serious revamping since.
"It's wonderful to see this updated. It was a tired place," Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) told the crowd. "But the care was good. This is just a game changer."
Kennedy Health, which operates hospitals in Washington Township and Stratford in addition to its Cherry Hill campus, has plans to merge with Thomas Jefferson University Hospital this summer. Still, staff at Kennedy and state officials hope the renovation will show the hospital's commitment to serving the South Jersey community.
"We are excited about this opportunity and what it's going to mean for quality of care of the people we represent," Assemblyman and Majority Leader Louis Greenwald (D-Camden) said.
While Tuesday marked a day of celebration, staff are already eyeing the coming phase of the $200 million overhaul. The next part of construction is slated to begin later this year, and will include a new acute-care hospital with all private patient rooms.
"The great news is, this is only halfway done," Devine told the crowd. "You have to believe we're going to do this. We're going to make Kennedy Hospital special."
Gesturing around the new entrance, he added: "We're standing in the reality."
Amanda Hoover can be reached at ahoover@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @amahoover. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
