Increased demand from a large population spike in the East Valley drove the expansion, say Desert Samaritan officials. Phoenix-based Kitchell Contractors, which built the original 275-bed hospital in 1973, was the general contractor. Orcutt/Winslow's Phoenix team was the architect for the expansion.

A 13,000-sf lab expansion was the last leg of the project. The lab expansion added 8,000 sf of new space and includes a third-story equipment penthouse, built large enough for future expansions of neonatal ICU and a proposed education center. A 5,000-sf remodeled area brought a new blood drawing area.

Kitchell also completed a new women's center designed for labor, delivery and recovery; a North Tower with 84 more patient rooms for cardiac care, endoscopy, surgery, patient admissions; and a 12-bed, pediatric intensive care unit in the children's center. A surgery center expansion included a 20,000-sf addition of six surgery rooms and an expanded post-anesthesia care unit.