BOARDMAN, Ohio - Humility of Mary Health Partners broke ground on its $100,000,000 expansion project at its St. Elizabeth Boardman Health Center.

The 165-thousand square foot expansion is the largest renovation project among the hospital system's three locations and it includes a new seven story inpatient bed tower.

The St. Elizabeth Boardman Health Center has been well received by the community since its opening in 2007. So much so that hospital officials say it's often at capacity, which it is reason for the seven story expansion.

"In it we are going to have 72 medical, surgical and telemetry beds, six additional intensive care beds and four more operating suites. As part of this expansion we are also bringing down our maternity services from main campus here to Boardman," said St. Elizabeth Boardman Health Center President Genie Aubel.

The hospital system will continue to pair with Akron Children's Hospital of the Mahoning Valley to operate a new neonatal intensive care unit. It will be the fifth of its kind in Ohio.

"Our plans are to build 25 state of the art rooms that will accommodate families and will continue to foster our family centered care approach. The families will be able to spend time in the rooms with their children and participate in their care," said Akron Children's Hospital of the Mahoning Valley Vice President Sharon Hrina.

The project will be completed in phases. The first phase, which includes shifting the nursery and NICU services to Boardman, will be completed in early 2014. The second phase, which includes the construction of tower floors four through seven, should be done by the end of 2014. However, floors five through seven will open as needed.

"As we work to create our strategic plan for the next 10 years we realize we cannot take a wait and see attitude. We cannot afford to nor do we intend to. We see the needs in the community and we are ready to do what is necessary to meet them," said Humility of Mary Health Partners President and CEO Robert Shroder.

Over the next five years, Humility of Mary Health Partners will invest about $200,000,000 in building projects. However, the St. Elizabeth Health Center located downtown will remain the largest of the three hospitals.