The team from Architects Hawaii Ltd. returned to Honolulu, Thursday, with a wealth of information.
CEO Dan Sullivan said that more than any project that their company has been involved with, the response and input from the meetings and discussions they held here for the new hospital has been the most productive.
The company, which was awarded the contract to design the new hospital has a time line of finishing the design in a year and start construction in a year and a half.
Because the hospital is funded with ARPA money it must be completed and operational by December 2026. The request for proposals called for 40 beds, however, AHL explained that the hospital project has a Phase 2, which would add another 130 beds. Funding has not been secured for Phase 2 yet. 
At a final meeting on Thursday with the leaders and medical staff of the LBJ Hospital and Department of Health, doctors and nurses gave recommendations on what the new facility should include. Emergency Room Doctor, Olita Laititi gave this advice.
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LBJ management also raised the need for rehabilitation therapy for patients that suffer stroke, noting that there’s not enough space at LBJ to provide the needed services.
Acting CEO Dr. Akapusi Ledua gave this example.
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The AHL team will make another visit before finalizing design plans.
