Oklahoma City, Oklahoma - SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital - Oklahoma City celebrated a milestone today in the construction of the hospital’s new west entrance to be named the Love Family Entrance. The hospital and Miller Architect were joined by members of the Love family, donors, physicians, employees, and community leaders for the topping out ceremony as the project reached its highest structural point.
In construction, a topping out ceremony – one of the industry's oldest customs – is celebrated when the last beam is placed at the top of a building. The hospital’s beam featured signatures from physicians, staff, donors and volunteers, as well as heartfelt messages from pediatric and adolescent Behavioral Health patients. An evergreen tree and a U.S. flag joined the beam as it was put in place.
SSM Health leaders, state and local dignitaries, employees, and other guests heard remarks delivered by: Joe Hodges, SSM Health Chief Operations Executive; Tammy Powell, SSM Health Regional President for Oklahoma and Mid-Missouri; and Jenny Love Meyer. The Lord’s Prayer was offered in song by Lailah Johnson with Oklahoma City University. The final beam to be placed at the site was blessed Andrew Ochs, SSM Health Regional Vice President of Mission Integration.
The project, which will improve accessibility to the hospital’s services for patients, guests, physicians, and employees, is being made possible due to the SaintsForward capital campaign. Continued fundraising efforts will bring the west side of the hospital to the finish line as well as support additional planned multi-year projects to expand the hospital’s Mission in the thriving Midtown Oklahoma City area.
The Tom and Judy Love Family made the lead gift to launch philanthropic support for the SaintsForward campaign, providing critical momentum to help bring the Love Family Entrance to life. Their investment reflects a longstanding commitment to advancing healthcare in the community and continues the Love Family’s enduring legacy of supporting the Mission and exceptional patient care at SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital.
“We are profoundly grateful to the Tom and Judy Love Family for their extraordinary generosity and unwavering commitment to our Mission,” Powell said. “Their leadership gift helped turn a vision into reality and continues a remarkable family legacy of support for St. Anthony Hospital that spans generations. Because of their partnership, we are creating a safer, more welcoming and more accessible entrance for the thousands of patients, families, physicians and employees who come through our doors each year. This project reflects what is possible when a community comes together to invest in the health and well-being of future generations.”
St. Anthony Hospital was the first hospital established in Oklahoma, and has been caring for Oklahomans since 1898. The current west entrance was built more than 60 years ago. Accessibility issues, including steep stairs and sloped sidewalks, represent challenges for the hospital’s most vulnerable patients crossing the street from the parking garage across N. Lee Avenue. The entrance serves thousands of patients, visitors, physicians, and employees each year. For the safety, comfort, and ease of patient access, Lee Avenue has been permanently closed, and a building with a spacious enclosed lobby, nearly four times the size of the previous lobby, will connect the ground floor of the parking garage to the hospital’s main floor and entrance.
“The Love Family Entrance will transform the experience for everyone who visits our hospital,” Powell said. “From improved accessibility and safety to a larger, more comfortable arrival space, this new entrance will help remove barriers and make it easier for patients and families to access the care they need. As we continue serving Oklahoma City and surrounding communities, this project represents an important investment in our Mission and in the future of St. Anthony Hospital.”
To help the hospital through the final stretches of this transformative project, gifts to the SaintsForward campaign can be made by calling 405-272-7070 or going to givetossmhealth.org/WestEntrance for more information.
About SSM Health in Oklahoma
SSM Health in Oklahoma includes St. Anthony Hospital (Oklahoma City), Bone & Joint Hospital at St. Anthony (Oklahoma City), SSM Health Outpatient Center (Oklahoma City), St. Anthony Hospital - Shawnee (Shawnee, Okla.), St. Anthony Hospital - Shawnee, Seminole Campus (Seminole, Okla.), St. Anthony Hospital - Midwest (Midwest City, Okla.), and SSM Health Rehabilitation Hospital, an SSM Health Select Medical partnership (Oklahoma City). The SSM Health network in Oklahoma also includes five SSM Health St. Anthony Healthplex campuses, seven managed hospitals, 17 rural affiliated hospitals and SSM Health Medical Group with more than 350 physicians and providers.
