Sarasota Memorial Hospital to build rehab pavilion in Venice

Sarasota Memorial Health Care System is moving forward with plans for a new $82.5 million rehabilitation pavilion at its Venice campus. The pavilion is intended to ensure a seamless, more convenient transition from the hospital to the new inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation facility, according to a news release.

The Sarasota County Public Hospital Board approved funding for the projects in September. 

Gresham Smith, who designed the rehabilitation pavilion on SMH’s Sarasota campus, and general contractor Deangelis Diamond have been selected to design and build the 83,000-square-foot facility. 

Construction is expected to take about two years, with the pavilion opening for patient care in early 2028.

Levels two and three of the four-story building will be dedicated to inpatient rehabilitation units with 50 private patient suites, advanced therapy gyms, mobility training areas and therapy tools and spaces that replicate real-life activities and environments. These include an apartment, kitchen, car and grocery store designed to support recovery and independent living. 

The first level will provide outpatient rehabilitation therapy and administrative space. The fourth floor will remain as a shell for future expansion. 

“This pavilion reflects our long-term commitment to providing comprehensive rehabilitation for people of our community,” said SMH Vice President of Post-Acute & Rehabilitation Maria DeCarlo in the news release. “It will mirror the nationally recognized programs and amenities at our Sarasota campus while offering care closer to home to residents in the growing south county community.”

The Rehabilitation Pavilion at SMH-Sarasota has operated at or near full capacity since opening in 2017. It was expanded from 44 to 54 beds in 2018, then to 60 beds in 2022. 

In September, the hospital board also approved $5.6 million to expand the Sarasota campus rehabilitation pavilion by seven more beds, bringing the total to 67. That expansion will begin next spring with the new wing opening in early 2027.