Builder begins work on $326M hospital, seeks minority-owned subcontractors

PLANT CITY — Construction of the new South Florida Baptist Hospital, a $326 million project, is moving forward in Plant City, and Orlando-based contractor Barton Marlow seeks minority-, women- and veteran-owned subcontractors to participate in the construction of the six-story, 508,000-square-foot facility.

The existing South Florida Baptist Hospital, part of BayCare Health System, opened in 1953 and, according to a news release, has undergone 12 expansions over the years; however, a lack of available land at its current location on North Alexander Street has necessitated the construction of a new facility at 3211 N. Wilder Road in Plant City.

Local officials and members of the Barton Marlow team broke ground at the site on Monday using the same shovel used at the groundbreaking for the existing hospital more than 70 years ago.

The new facility is expected to open in early 2024 and will employ 800 staff members in addition to more than 250 physicians, the release states. It will have 146 private patient rooms, plus an 85,000-square-foot medical office building that will house physician offices, an outpatient laboratory, imaging, rehabilitation, wound care, infusion services and administrative offices.