Construction began on Piedmont Henry Hospital’s new patient tower in April of 2024. Since the day CEO David Kent rode into the groundbreaking event on a front loader, over 400 men and women have worked on the massive expansion and renovation project, keeping it on budget and ahead of schedule. The first patient in the new tower was originally scheduled for August 2026, but it is now expected in June. Crews will spend the next few months equipping the rooms and getting the tower ready for occupancy.

The $212 million project increases Piedmont Henry’s bed capacity by 112 beds. The hospital’s license is now for 355 beds. In addition to expanding surface parking, three additional operating rooms were constructed to provide greater access and shorter wait times for complex surgical procedures, while the hospital’s electrophysiology lab was renovated to offer ablation procedures to treat atrial fibrillation.

“I believe what we pride ourselves on as a project team is putting the patients first. We always begin with the end in mind. It’s not about what we do, but why we do it”, said Joshua Williams, Manager, Program Management for Meadows and Ohly, a comprehensive real estate services firm that serves the healthcare industry. “There’s no greater feeling than seeing that first patient. We’re not doctors or nurses, but if we can create spaces to help them save lives, all the hard work is worth it.”

The design process for the new patient tower began in 2017 and was adjusted after COVID-19 to include more space and equipment for patients requiring more complex care close to home. One example of this is the installation of a 9,000-gallon oxygen tank, which will supply this tower and the next. Piedmont Henry will also have 52 beds across two intensive care units.

“The Piedmont Henry staff and the Henry County community truly were an integral part in making this project happen. Without their countless sacrifices and willingness to adjust, none of this would be possible.” Williams said. “I’m excited about this project because I know the work we are doing will impact this community for decades to come.”

Visitors to Piedmont Henry will see one of the biggest changes in the cafeteria. The new dining area and kitchen will be in the new tower and will be considerably larger than the existing space. In addition to a mini-market and a pizza oven area, visitors and guests will be able to enjoy indoor or outdoor seating in this beautiful new space. The new tower has a brand-new chapel for patients, visitors, and staff.

While work continued on the new building, Kent and his leadership team focused on staff growth. There were initiatives to improve communication with patients, reduce emergency department wait times, and expand trauma services and critical care provided at the hospital. Piedmont Henry saw their scores improve nearly everywhere. They earned two consecutive ‘A’ grades from The Leapfrog Group, an independent organization focused on patient safety, and earned a bronze-level Beacon Award for Excellence in the intensive care unit. The hospital also became a Level III Trauma Center and a Level III Pediatric Readiness Center during the construction project.

“We keep the patient at the center of all we do, and we focus on finding ways to consistently improve,” said Kent. “To quote the construction team, ‘this project is bigger than just bricks and sticks,’ it is about doing what’s best for the community we serve and always having an eye on the future.”

Hospital administrators often joke that the minute a project of this magnitude is finished, the next one must begin. There are no official plans for another tower just yet, but discussions might resume soon.

By Michael Boylan

Stockbridge, Ga. (Feb. 10, 2026)