Highline Medical Center will have a busy weekend as they perform the final move to their new Urgent Care and Family Medicine facility in West Seattle’s Triangle, with plans to start seeing patients there on Monday, Nov. 19.

But before the big move takes place, Highline took a moment on Thursday afternoon, Nov. 15, to dedicate the new 12,900 sq. foot building with a ribbon cutting ceremony, live jazz, appetizers and tours for guests and those integral to the project.

“This is an amazing transformation,” Highline Medical Center Board of Trustees Chair Larry Bjork said at the event, thanking HSD Construction and Burgess Architects for their help. “Congratulations to you all. This is a wonderful facility and we are proud to be here and we are proud to be able to serve this community for many, many, many years.”

The old Cycle U building at 4550 Fauntleroy Way S.W. has been completely transformed over the course of six months, now housing a 2,500 sq. foot Urgent Care facility on the main floor and a 9,000 sq. foot Family Medicine branch on the lower level. Urgent Care has five exam rooms, one procedure room, one x-ray room and one lab while Family Medicine has 18 exam rooms, one procedure room and one lab.

Highline Medical CEO Mark Benedum thanked the physicians and their support staff who have worked at West Seattle’s Family Medicine and, more recently, Urgent Care facilities who will be coming together under one larger roof.

Dr. Peter Maurice, president of Highline’s medical staff, said “It is really impressive to see the hospital make such a dramatic footprint in this community … As a West Seattle resident and a father of three young children, I can tell you how important it is to me to have high quality care, particularly urgent care, available in my neighborhood. I want to commend everyone involved in this project for their good work in making health care more accessible in West Seattle.”

Marty Couret, ARNP and the clinic’s medical director took a moment to thank Lisa Randall, the West Seattle clinic manager, for her help in making the transition a reality and talked about the importance of having local health care options.

“We have been here for over two decades,” Couret said. “Highline is committed to West Seattle, and with this new facility you can count us being here for a long time to come.”

Firefighters from Fire Station #32 just across the road stopped by for the event as well, and Lt. Erwin Chappel shared a few comments.

“We look forward to working with you, we share the same mission statement in regards to comprehensive care, emergency care, urgent care,” he said. “We welcome you to the neighborhood and community.”

Rev. Amy Hitchens, Highline’s hospital chaplain, blessed the building, the staff and their mission and a slew of scissors were produced for the cutting of the ribbon. As the remarks ended and the ribbon fell; casual conversation and jazz resumed as bacon-wrapped dates were consumed, and then partially burnt off as people toured the newest home for medical care in West Seattle.

To read more on the new facility, please check out the Herald's sneak peek.

Highline plans to hold an open house for the public in the new facility in the coming months.