As Florida continues to grow, access to quality healthcare close to home has become more important than ever. In Auburndale, a new emergency facility is taking shape with that very goal in mind.
The recent topping out of the 13,000-square-foot AdventHealth Auburndale ER represents more than a construction milestone. The new facility will bring emergency services, advanced imaging and dedicated patient care directly into the community, while also reflecting the changing ways healthcare systems are meeting the needs of Florida families.
For Worthy Magazine, I spoke with healthcare construction firm Robins & Morton about the project, its longstanding partnership with AdventHealth and what the future of community-based healthcare may look like across Florida.
What does the topping out of AdventHealth Auburndale ER represent for Robins & Morton, AdventHealth and the surrounding community?
The topping out of the AdventHealth Auburndale ER marks a meaningful milestone. For Robins & Morton, it reflects the continued strength of a longstanding partnership with AdventHealth built on a shared commitment to delivering high-quality healthcare facilities across Florida. We’re especially proud of the opportunity to build a facility dedicated to emergency care in Auburndale.
How will this new 13,000-square-foot emergency facility help improve access to timely, high-quality healthcare for Auburndale families?
The facility will bring a full-service emergency department directly into the community, featuring 12 patient beds along with CT and X-ray capabilities. For families in Auburndale and the surrounding Polk County area, that means faster access to emergency care when minutes matter. Residents will have access to a facility staffed and equipped to handle a wide range of emergencies close to home.
What design and construction considerations are especially important when creating an emergency facility that will serve both adult and pediatric patients?
While questions about the design are better answered by our partners at HuntonBrady, we can share more insight into construction considerations of freestanding emergency facilities. For example, coordinating the delivery and installation of complex medical equipment, including imaging systems and laboratory infrastructure, must be carefully managed to meet clinical requirements.
There are also different activation requirements for various portions of the facility, such as the laboratory and IT systems, which must be fully functional 60 days before opening. This is significant considering the short timelines in which the buildings are constructed.
Additionally, Robins & Morton prioritizes resilience in these facilities, incorporating robust redundancy systems capable of sustaining operations during power disruptions, which is especially critical in Florida’s storm-prone environment. This added complexity requires sophisticated mechanical, electrical and plumbing oversight, ensuring the proper equipment is procured early to meet compressed project timelines.
How is Robins & Morton using its experience in Florida’s healthcare landscape to address the state’s growing population and evolving medical needs?
Robins & Morton has specialized in healthcare construction for more than half of its 80-year history. During that time, we’ve developed an extensive portfolio of healthcare facility types, ranging from large, new campuses to single-unit renovations in active facilities.
At present, we have more than 60 healthcare projects in progress in Florida, totaling $3.1 billion. Our depth of experience means our teams arrive at each new project with proven processes, established trade contractor relationships, and a clear understanding of Florida’s regulatory environment.
Our deep expertise results in precise budgeting, scheduling and quality management, allowing our clients to confidently establish long-term construction programs that increase access to care for the state’s growing population and evolving medical needs.
Looking ahead, what trends do you believe will shape the future of healthcare construction in Florida, particularly for community-based emergency care?
Several trends are already shaping the next generation of emergency care facilities in Florida. First, the demand for community-based care will continue to grow as health systems work to bring services closer to rapidly expanding residential areas.
Freestanding emergency departments are a key part of that shift, and alongside them, outpatient ambulatory care facilities are increasingly being positioned in communities to give patients a more streamlined experience, allowing them to receive the procedures and services they need without navigating a larger hospital campus.
Second, resilience is becoming a baseline expectation. Facilities are being designed and built to withstand Florida’s storm-prone environment with robust backup power and structural systems that keep operations running when the surrounding community needs them most.
Third, prefabrication and modular construction methods continue to gain traction as a way to accelerate delivery timelines without sacrificing quality. Finally, technology integration, from advanced imaging to digital infrastructure, will continue to elevate what a community emergency facility can offer from the moment it opens its doors.
For Florida communities like Auburndale, growth inevitably brings new needs. Projects such as this one offer a glimpse at how healthcare can grow alongside the people it serves—not simply by building something new, but by bringing essential care closer to home when families need it most.
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