Sarasota Memorial plans $82.5M rehab center at Venice hospital

Sarasota Memorial Health Care System is moving forward with plans for a new rehabilitation center at its Venice campus expected to open in early 2028.

After the Sarasota County Public Hospital Board authorized $82.5 million for the project last month, Sarasota Memorial in October selected architect Gresham Smith and general contractor DeAngelis Diamond to design and build the four-story rehab pavilion. Construction will take approximately two years, according to a statement.

Spanning 83,000 square feet, the pavilion will provide both inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services. Outpatient rehabilitation therapy and administrative spaces will occupy the first floor. The second and third floors will be dedicated to inpatient rehabilitation, with 50 private patient suites, advanced therapy gyms, therapy tools and mobility-training areas. There will also be spaces designed to replicate real-life environments, including a car, grocery store, apartment and kitchen, to support recovery and independent living. The fourth floor will be shelled to allow for future expansion, while parking in front of the facility will be reconfigured but preserved to accommodate the new building.