DFW News App

Medical City Arlington’s $144 million new three-story surgical patient tower is nearly finished.After breaking ground in March 2023, the project is entering its last phase of construction and is now 70% complete. Though the expansion initially had an early 2025 completion date, it is now projected to be done in September 2025. The expansion gives the hospital additional capacity and allows for enhanced patient services and will accommodate the hospital’s growing demand.The more than 127,000-square-foot expansion includes a new patient tower and significant renovations, including: 60 additional patient care beds

Eight private day surgery rooms

12 additional post-anesthesia bays

Central energy plant

Kitchen expansion and renovation

Two neurosurgery operating rooms

Two orthopedic surgery operating rooms

New main lobby connecting the patient tower to Medical City Women’s Hospital ArlingtonAdditionally, the new tower will have the foundation and structure to potentially expand to nine stories and accommodate future growth. “It says a lot about the growth of the Arlington community, as well as our commitment to staying ahead and being willing to invest early in the community’s growth from an infrastructure standpoint,” Sharn Barbarin, CEO of Medical City Arlington, said.The expansion project is focused on a clean and modern look, which speaks to the advanced technology that will be offered in the new tower and operating rooms, Barbarin added. Waiting areas, lobbies and a brand-new Starbucks will also have the same sleek look to serve the hospital’s patients, families and employees.Concept art for one of the lobbies in the new Medical City Arlington vertical tower, which is projected to be completed this September. (Courtesy image | Medical City Arlington)Concept art for the surgery corridor in the new Medical City Arlington vertical tower. The expansion will increase overall surgical capacity by 50%. (Courtesy image | Medical City Arlington)The three-story tower expansion is part of an era of growth for Medical City Healthcare, which opened the Mental Health & Wellness Center at its Alliance location in February. Over five years, Medical City Healthcare has invested more than $1.7 billion in capital improvements, including building acquisitions and expansions, facility enhancements and leading-edge technology.Medical City Arlington recognizes it needs to meet community needs by ensuring compassionate care and facilities equipped with the latest technology, Barbarin said.“We also want to ensure that our surgeons and our medical staff have that same level of confidence in us,” Barbarin said. “We had 22,000 patients that were admitted into our hospital last year. That happens when you have medical staff that are confident in the care and the quality that you provide.”Currently, Medical City Arlington is a Level II Trauma Center and comprehensive stroke center. Its emergency room saw 111,000 patients in 2024, which was 5% more than 2023.The expansion has been very intentional in providing the tools and surgical spaces to support the hospital’s volume demand and the city’s population growth, Barbarin said. “When you look at the projections of Arlington and its surrounding communities, they are anywhere from 5% to 8% every year,” Barbarin said, referring to rising populations. “It positions us not just for today’s growth, but for growth five years from now.”Matthew Eiserloh, a spokesperson for Medical City Arlington, said the expansion was warranted because its operating rooms were consistently used at maximum capacity. He added that this maximum is not 100%, but rather between 70% to 80%. “The idea is to grow with the community,” Eiserloh said. The increased demand came from both trauma and surgical patients, Barbarin said. The expansion is expected to increase overall surgical capacity by 50%. With nearly 115,000 emergency room visits projected in 2025, additional surgery capacity will help alleviate the volume of unscheduled emergency surgical cases.Medical City Arlington’s physicians, nurses and team members are abuzz as they see the renovation and expansions taking shape, Barbarin said.“Whether it be trauma, women’s services or neonatal care, we are so excited that the expansions we have undergone and their aesthetics align with who we are and what we bring from a health care perspective,” Barbarin said. Kathryn Miller is a reporting fellow at the Fort Worth Report. You can contact her at kathryn.miller@fortworthreport.org. At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.