Hospital remodeling project on track

GREENCASTLE -- A major renovation at the Putnam County Hospital is likely close to completion.

In August, the hospital's main entrance drive was temporarily closed while construction took place. A recent letter penned by Putnam County Hospital Chief Executive Officer Dennis Weatherford, addressed to "Community Member," said that the drive should be open early next week.

"We greatly appreciate your patience and cooperation during the last six weeks as we strive to make Putnam County Hospital a greener facility," Weatherford wrote. "The project is nearing completion, with a target of early December. The remaining energy-efficient windows will soon be installed, and all of the rooftops are nearly complete."

The closing of the entrance was not expected in the course of the project. Routing was changed for emergency room patients during the closure.

The original Putnam County Hospital Building, erected in the late 1970s, was 120,000 square feet. Two years ago, hospital officials began discussing ways to make the facility more energy efficient and patient-friendly.

The work, which is being done by Bloomington-based Weddle Brothers Building Group, is expected to mean big savings for the hospital -- it is projected that overall energy costs at the facility will drop 20 to 40 percent annually.

Some of the funding for the project came from the U.S. Department of Energy's EnergySmart Hospitals program. The initiative aims to assist new and existing hospitals to reduce their energy consumption and operating costs.

Throughout the project, which began this past spring, hospital officials have maintained constant contact with the building crews through daily meetings, PCH marketing coordinator Jennifer Bedwell said.