PORT ANGELES — Costs continue to increase for Olympic Medical Center’s planned medical office building as OMC officials enlarge its capacity for both providers and parking.
Estimated cost for the more than 39,000-square-foot, two-story building has risen to $18.2 million, with almost $3 million added for 2,300 more square feet of space and $300,000 in increased mechanical and electrical work.
“We made it bigger,” CEO Eric Lewis told OMC commissioners Wednesday.
“This is really designed with the next 60 years in mind,” he added.
Anticipating inflation and contingencies, he said the building could cost about a total of $19 million.
OMC has borrowed $20 million for the project, which is expected to begin construction in the spring.
Bordered by Caroline, Washington, Georgiana and Race streets, the site will provide 223 new parking places.
Inside, it will have 60 examination rooms — an increase of 30 over OMC’s current clinic capacity — with X-ray and laboratory facilities and a walk-in clinic on the first floor.
The second floor will house general surgery, orthopedics and perhaps pediatrics, Lewis said. A half-basement will be left as a shell for the present time.
Lewis told commissioners they could trim back the project to its original $15 million estimate if they wish, but they should be ready to make design-development decisions at their Jan. 21 meeting.
Emergency department
Meanwhile, construction continues on expanding OMC’s emergency department, with traffic at times diverted near the hospital’s main entrance through Monday.
Only one-way access will be available in the south parking lot.
A limited number of parking stalls will be available for patient and visitor parking, and the lot will be fenced off to the east of the main entrance.
Several parking stalls will be blocked to provide a turnaround point for patients and visitors.
Remaining parking in the south parking lot will be restricted to handicapped, emergency department and short-stay parking.
In other action Wednesday, hospital commissioners:
Endorse ballot measures
■ Unanimously endorsed both the Port Angeles School District’s and the Sequim School District’s levy and bond proposals.
■ Heard a presentation from backers of the levy for the Sequim Aquatic Recreation Center and agreed to consider endorsing it Jan. 21.
■ Agreed to transfer Dr. Michael McDonald’s employment from Swedish Medical Center’s payroll to OMC’s for $207,600 a year plus $150 per hour for 18 hours as director of the Olympic Medical Physicians Sleep Center.
■ Elected commissioner Tom Oblak as board president, replacing Jim Leskinovitch, and Commissioner John Nutter as board secretary.