Q: What is Swedish building?
A: After years of planning, and with valuable input from caregivers, patients and stakeholders, we’re moving forward with construction of two world-class medical towers: North Tower and Block 95 Tower. North Tower construction starts first on an accelerated timeline, with Block 95 Tower starting at a later date.
Q: Why invest in new facilities?
A: Since opening our doors 113 years ago as a hospital dedicated to extraordinary care, Swedish has been the Puget Sound region’s leading non-profit health-care provider. Inspired by our founder, Dr. Nils Johanson, we are guided by the pioneering spirit of those who came before us and their commitment to quality and excellence, as well as the needs of our community.
Today Swedish carries on that deeply rooted commitment to quality, excellence and innovation. And one way we’re doing that is by investing in our facilities to ensure that we’ll be here for the next 100 years — and centuries to come — delivering on our mission and promise to every patient from communities around Seattle, the Puget Sound, the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
For years, Swedish has aspired to upgrade and expand our facilities on the First Hill campus. Making this investment in our facilities now allows us to:
- replace aging facilities.
- provide a state-of-the-art, best-in-class environment for patient care.
- ensure First Hill continues to deliver the most advanced and specialized medical care in the Northwest (highest-acuity tertiary/quaternary care hub).
The reality is many of our operating rooms and hospital spaces at First Hill, such as the emergency department, are aging and need to be replaced if we are to continue as the center for advanced and excellent care our founders envisioned.
Not only will our patients and community benefit from new, state-of-the-art facilities, but we want Swedish to be the best workplace in the Northwest. Period. This includes creating world-class facilities in which our caregivers can proudly practice medicine, provide care and conduct research.
Q: Where are the sites located?
- North Tower: Corner of Marion Street and Minor Avenue, adjacent to First Hill’s Southwest and East Towers
- Block 95 Tower: Bounded by Minor, Cherry, Boren and Columbia streets
Q: What will be in the new facilities?
- North Tower: the future of acute care
The 12-story tower will offer a state-of-the-art environment for patients and caregivers and will include a larger, more efficient emergency department and a new main surgery department. The building also includes 72 acuity-adaptable intensive care unit (ICU) beds, imaging services, and shell space for future growth. The North Tower build starts immediately on an accelerated timeline. Please see the fast facts below for more. - Block 95 Tower: the future of outpatient care
This tower will come on the heels of North Tower construction, but the timeline is subject to change. For now, this site will be a staging area for construction of the North Tower. When construction does start on this building in years to come, it will include outpatient space and offices, underground parking, tunnel and skybridge.
Q: When will the North Tower open?
A: We expect the North Tower to open in Fall 2027, but timing is subject to change. Construction on the Block 95 Tower is anticipated to start as soon as the North Tower is complete.
Q: What makes the North Tower different?
A: Seattle is one of the most forward-thinking, tech-centric cities in the world – we should be home to facilities that reflect this. To this end, the North Tower will be a “building of the future” – allowing us to take advantage of technology and innovations to ensure that Swedish remains the best place to receive care.
Our patients and caregivers are at the heart of every design decision related to this expansion. We know that a healing environment plays a critical role in the experiences of patients and caregivers alike. Creating state-of-the-art care spaces for our patients remains paramount to delivering exceptional care in the Northwest and beyond.
In addition, Providence Swedish served the first COVID patient in the USA (in Everett) – we learned a lot and have an opportunity to shape how our physical environment can support care in future pandemics and/or emergencies.
Q: Will these be “green” buildings?
A: Yes. For both towers, our leadership in environmental stewardship will include improving our ability to source non-fossil-fuel steam and reclaim waste heat through infrastructure upgrades across the First Hill campus. All with the goal of becoming carbon negative — for the entire organization — by 2030.
For the new towers, we’ll be able to use modern technology to create a network to share heating and cooling resources that would otherwise be wasted. This is an innovative approach we’re leading.
Health-care organizations can be part of the climate solution by creating a healthier environment. We’re proud to be taking the necessary steps to decarbonize, improve energy efficiency and minimize waste. And, we’re already a leader in environmental sustainability, having received many Practice Greenhealth Environmental Excellence Awards for our energy and carbon reduction practices.
North Tower Fast Facts
Location: Corner of Marion Street and Minor Avenue, adjacent to First Hill's Southwest and East Towers
The North Tower – tentatively opening Fall 2027 – will allow us to replace our aging facilities, and upon opening will feature:
- New main surgery: 24 advanced operating suites, with state-of-the-art technology to support the evolving delivery of surgical services.
- New emergency department (ED): 31-room ED, including eight rooms designed to better serve our behavioral health population.
- 72 acuity-adaptable intensive care unit (ICU) beds to ensure flexibility.
- New centralized imaging facilities.
- Supportive, healing spaces for patients, caregivers and visitors.
- Connection to the skybridge over Marion Street.
- Underground parking, retail areas and green spaces, which will offer respite and convenience for all who work and visit.
- Shell space on several floors for future expansion of bed floors or procedural space.
