Riverside Health held a ceremony on June 13 to commemorate the final structural beam placement in the construction of the new Riverside Smithfield Hospital. The event provided an opportunity for Riverside team members, leaders and community members to mark the occasion by signing the final steel beam before its final installation. Guests were provided the opportunity to sign the structural beam which was placed on the east roof of the building.

“We are proud to be a part of this close-knit community. Beam signing is a timeless tradition for individuals to leave their mark, not only on the physical structure, but also on the collective history of the building,” said Dr. Mike Dacey, President and CEO of Riverside Health. “The signatures of our team members and community leaders serve as a symbol of unity and pride of our collective effort to make this hospital a reality for those living in Isle of Wight.” 

The campus, located near the intersection of Benns Church and Brewers Neck boulevards, will house a standalone one-story medical office building along with the 178,500-square-foot hospital. The new facility will feature an emergency department, diagnostic imaging services, medical/surgical unit, intensive care unit and four operating rooms. The adjacent Jamison-Longford Medical Office Building Medical Office Building will provide additional space for multispecialty medical practice offices, diagnostic and procedural suites. 

“The placement of the final structural beam is a significant milestone in the construction of the new hospital,” said Riverside Smithfield Hospital President Jessica Macalino. “This momentous event signals one step closer in our journey to providing high-quality, compassionate and most importantly, accessible medical care for those living in Smithfield, Isle of Wight and Surry.”

Riverside Smithfield Hospital broke ground in July 2023 and is on schedule to be open in early 2026. Updates on the construction progress are available at riversideonline.com/rsh.