Mar 13, 2018 2 min read

The emergency department at Jefferson Hospital will be getting a makeover.

Officials of the Jefferson Hills-based facility and its parent, Allegheny Health Network, announced plans Monday for a $21 million expansion and renovation of the emergency area. The work, a complete renovation of the existing department, will be done in phases and result in an expansion from 37 to 49 treatment and observation beds.

The first phase will include construction of a temporary entrance to the emergency area. When work to the front of the department is completed next year, the hospital will have a new façade and a secured walk-in emergency entrance to the right of Jefferson Hospital’s main entrance, near the existing helipad. The helipad will be moved to the top of the emergency department.

MBM Contracting, of Baldwin, is the contractor. It began work last week. Stantec, of Pittsburgh, is the architect.

Doug Braunsdorf, a spokesman for AHN, said the project is targeted for completion in 2020.

Louise Urban, president and chief executive officer of the hospital, said in a prepared statement: “We take great pride in the outstanding emergency care that we provide to more than 50,000 patients a year. … For many people … the emergency department serves as their initial experience with our hospital.