NORTH PORT, Fla. (Dec. 10, 2025) – Sarasota Memorial Health Care System (SMH) has begun underground construction of utility and stormwater systems at the new Sarasota Memorial Hospital–North Port campus, marking a significant milestone as vital infrastructure work progresses in the weeks and months ahead.
The $507 million project, located on a 32-acre parcel along North Sumter Boulevard near the Interstate-75 interchange, is on track for its scheduled opening in late 2028. The underground work, which will continue through 2026, involves construction of utility and stormwater systems and foundation infrastructure that paves the way for the next phase of vertical construction.
As part of this critical development, SMH is working with the City of North Port to schedule some construction activities, specifically concrete pours for the foundation, during overnight hours. Nighttime concrete pours are industry standard for many large-scale projects in Florida. Cooler temperatures ensure proper concrete curing and structural integrity for a hospital’s demanding scale. Staging cement trucks at night also will help prevent traffic congestion during peak daytime hours. A single day’s pour could require up to 35 cement trucks.
Pending city approval, SMH plans to begin concrete pours in February. A schedule of the night work will be posted on the city and hospital websites every two weeks to keep nearby residents and businesses updated.
“We understand that construction, especially night work, can impact our neighbors,” Sarasota Memorial Hospital-North Port President Jeff Wesner said. “We are working closely with the City of North Port and our construction partners to ensure all efforts are made to reduce noise and manage lighting during these extended work hours while we work diligently to bring this much-needed healthcare facility to the community.”
Long-term durability is paramount for a hurricane-hardened facility of this scope and size, Wesner noted. The cooler temperatures stabilize evaporation and humidity levels, slowing the curing process, which results in stronger, more durable concrete less prone to cracks. That is essential for hospitals, which require deeper slabs to support heavy equipment like MRI machines sensitive to vibration and flawlessly prepared, flat surfaces to install flooring in sterile procedural and patient care areas.
When completed in 2028, SMH-North Port will be nine stories tall, with an adjacent 3-story medical office building. The hospital will initially open with 100 beds and include three floors of finished shell space, which will allow SMH to quickly double capacity to 208 beds. The campus is designed with flexibility for future expansion to over 400 beds as the community grows.
For a sneak peek of the hospital design, you can watch the animation video below
For future updates on the construction of SMH-North Port, visit: smh.com/NorthPortUpdates
About Sarasota Memorial Health Care System
Sarasota Memorial Health Care System is a regional medical center offering Southwest Florida’s greatest breadth and depth of care, with 2,500 physicians and advanced practice providers and nearly 2 million patient visits a year across its network of care. Sarasota County’s largest employer, the community-owned health system includes two full-service hospitals in Sarasota and Venice, freestanding ERs in North Port and Lakewood Ranch, a rehabilitation hospital, behavioral health hospital, skilled nursing facility and comprehensive network of outpatient centers, urgent care clinics and physician practices. Founded in 1925, SMH is celebrating its 100-year anniversary in 2025 and encouraging community members to visit smh.com/100 throughout the year for centennial events and updates.