Auburn Construction nears completion of Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital restoration project

Brockton, MA The massive construction project to rebuild Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital is substantially complete and open to the public following a devastating fire in early 2023, the project’s construction management team announced.

The project, led by the collaborative efforts of Auburn Construction, SmithGroup, Liro Group, Peregrine Group, Anania Plumbing, and J&M Brown Company included a full restoration of the 341,000 s/f building’s infrastructure, along with significant improvements to several of its facilities, marking a new chapter in its 125-year history of serving the community. Together, this team of experts has ensured that the hospital not only recovered from the fire but also emerged stronger with enhanced spaces for patients and staff.

The hospital reopened its doors in August 2024, welcoming back employees, patients, and the community to an improved healthcare environment. Behind the ceilings and walls, Brockton Hospital has undergone a complete infrastructure overhaul including new electrical, plumbing, medical gas and air handling systems spanning the entire footprint of the building. A new 2,700 s/f addition at the north end of the hospital houses new switchgear, separating daily and emergency systems and providing new generators and transformers on site. The reconstruction meets today’s more stringent code standards and will help to prevent disruption to services if a future disaster were to occur.

The fire closure enabled other developments to move forward as well. SmithGroup designed a modernization of the main lobby to enhance the patient and visitor experience. Other major developments, which were designed by Liro Group and completed while the hospital was closed, are a brand-new outpatient surgical facility, a redesigned and more efficient emergency department, updated radiology, a behavioral health facility, and an improved compounding pharmacy. These upgrades provide safer, more comprehensive healthcare services to the community.

“The journey to rebuild Brockton Hospital has been a testament to resilience, collaboration, and efficient project management,” said David Kelliher, president of Auburn Construction. “Starting with Signature Healthcare, Peregrine Group and SmithGroup to name a few, every one of these dedicated teams has worked tirelessly together with the single goal of reviving this staple of the Brockton community.”

“Renovating a 100-year-old hospital poses unique challenges not found in new construction,” said Andrew Brumbach, senior principal at SmithGroup. “Meticulous coordination, planning, flexibility, and execution by all involved was absolutely crucial to navigating century-old infrastructure and ensuring compliance with modern safety and operational standards.”

The final phase of hospital reconstruction has been focused on completing the maternity, pediatric, and behavioral health units. These key departments are expected to be finished in the coming months, further expanding the hospital’s capacity to meet the growing needs of the Brockton area.

“Everyone involved worked tirelessly to create a welcoming environment that would welcome the community to the hospital while maintaining optimal conditions for current patients,” said Jordan Stone of Peregrine Group, Signature Healthcare’s real estate advisory group. “While the fire was devastating for the hospital and the community, we embraced the opportunity to transform this community pillar into a more modern and efficient facility. We know the community will enjoy the notable changes.”

Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital has been a cornerstone of the community for over 125 years, providing safe, high-quality care to thousands of patients. With these new improvements, the hospital is poised to continue its tradition of excellence for another 125 years and beyond.