New $500 Million Hospital Project Approved in Florida

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The Sunrise City Commission has given the green light for a massive $500 million hospital to be built in the city, just under two miles from Amerant Bank Arena! Baptist Health South Florida is all set to develop this impressive seven-story, 100-bed hospital at 12401 W. Oakland Park Blvd, along with a five-story parking garage, following unanimous approval from local officials.

Bo Boulenger, president and CEO of Baptist Health South Florida, couldn’t be more excited. "We’re ready to build the first hospital in Sunrise," he shared at the recent meeting. "We’re going to do it as quickly as possible, and we’re talking about a $500 million investment in this community." He also mentioned the hospital would create around 600 high-paying jobs with benefits, plus bring more doctors into the area.

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The 370,000-square-foot hospital will be fully equipped, featuring an emergency department, critical care, surgery suites, imaging services, and even outpatient medical offices. It’ll be open 24/7, with around four ambulance visits expected daily. It’s a significant upgrade for the city, especially since Sunrise has been waiting for a hospital for quite some time.

The hospital will occupy a 10-acre portion of a larger 26-acre site that Baptist Health is purchasing from the city for $13.75 million. The remaining 16 acres will be left as a wetland conservation area, ensuring a balance between development and nature. The city has given Baptist Health 30 days to close the deal after securing the necessary approvals.

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Commissioner Mark Douglas pointed out just how important this project is for Sunrise, especially since the city welcomes around 25 to 30 million visitors each year. And with the possible closure of the nearest hospital, Florida Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale, this new facility will be a game-changer.

Sunrise officials have praised Baptist Health for their community outreach efforts and attention to neighbors' concerns, especially with plans to design the hospital’s parking garage as a buffer between the facility and nearby homes. Loading zones, ambulance bays, and other equipment will be located further away from residential areas, next to the Sawgrass Expressway, to minimize any impact.

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This hospital marks Baptist Health South Florida’s first hospital in Broward County, adding to its existing network of seven hospitals in Miami-Dade, two in Monroe, and three in Palm Beach County. With around 97,000 residents, Sunrise is also home to the famous Sawgrass Mills Shopping Mall, business parks, and the Amerant Bank Arena, where the Florida Panthers NHL team plays.

But that's not all – Sunrise is also gearing up for the massive Metropica development, a 92-acre project initially set to include 2,500 high-rise residential units, 300 townhouses, and 785,000 square feet of office space. The City Commission recently approved an amendment to increase the project’s size to 3,000 high-rise units and 925,000 square feet of office space on its first reading. Once it clears the second reading, it’ll officially become law, signaling even more growth on the horizon for Sunrise.