Staff, patients and community members gathered July 31 for a groundbreaking ceremony celebrating the construction and campaign for support of a new emergency room facility and patient care unit at Highline Medical Center in Burien.

Highline Chief Executive Officer Mark Benedum said the new facility was the "greatest undertaking we've ever hard in the history of Highline Medical Center."

In order for the new facility to be built, another building that had been built in 1958 has been torn down.

According to officials, the new building will be "three times as large as [the] current facility" and is set to open in 2010.

Russ Goodman, chairman of Highline's Board of Trustees, said a new building was "over-needed" and expressed his thanks to the Highline staff for their hard work.

"Many literally owe their lives to those who work at Highline," he said.

A number of Highline nurses and doctors spoke about the new facility.

"It's long been apparent a new facility has been needed," said Dr. Jim Andrews, a retired ER physician who had been at Highline for 19 years. "My only regret is that I won't personally have the opportunity to see patients in the new facility."

Former patients also expressed their excitement, including 73-year-old Levi Lucero, who has been to Highline's ER twice-the first time for a bad reaction to a medication and the second for a heart attack.

The experiences did not dampen his good mood at the ceremony. "You know how cats got nine lives? I've used two of mine," he said jokingly. Lucero said it was the creation of the new facility was a great thing for the community.

Highline Medical Center Foundation President Allen Clark said that $3.4 million had been pledged toward a $10 million goal that the Foundation had set for support of the new facility.

"Highline receives no tax support from the community, [therefore] a campaign like this is very important," he said.

Director of Community Relations Mara Burke said the total cost of the project was $61 million.

The ceremony concluded with an unveiling of a glass-encased model of Highline Medical Center, showing a toy-sized version of how the hospital would look like with the new facility.

Burien Deputy Mayor Rose Clark also attended the ceremony.

"I think this a wonderful event," she said. "My family has [been coming to Highline] since the early 60s. The medical center serves this community well and we're just delighted."

(Judy Vue is a student in the University of Washington Department of Communication News Laboratory.)