News : Hospital addition \'99 percent\' complete; ribbon cutting, open house planned

One of the new entrances completed as part of the renovation.

Workers resurface the parking lot at VGH, where an open house Sept. 18 will celebrate renovation.

Work on the Virginia Gay Hospital expansion and remodeling project is “99 percent complete,” said Hospital Administrator Mike Riege.

The hospital is planning three events (two private tours and one public open house) to celebrate its largest addition in the middle of September.

A ribbon cutting is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 15. The hospital has invited Iowa Gov. Chet Culver, and is waiting for a response from Culver’s office to see if he or one of his representatives will attend that event.

Then the next day, Sept. 16, Iowa Hospital Association President Kirk Norris will participate in another ribbon cutting.

Both of those ribbon cuttings will be followed by private tours for donors.

The public celebration will take place Saturday morning, Sept. 18. An open house will take place from 9 a.m. to noon that day, which is also the day of the annual Boomtown fireworks event.

“We’re just about done inside,” said Riege. “We had to replace some of the flooring in a couple areas because we didn’t like the way it was holding up. We have a couple of waiting rooms to finish, and in one of the board rooms, we need to replace the carpet.”
Some outpatient areas have a bit of work left, but Riege said it will all be done in time for the celebration.