GBMC HealthCare Celebrates the Successful Ribbon Cutting of the Louis and Phyllis Friedman Building
November 3, 2023Following today's ribbon cutting ceremony, GBMC HealthCare proudly celebrates the official opening of the Louis and Phyllis Friedman Building, a historic advancement on the Towson campus. This state-of-the-art facility reaffirms GBMC's enduring commitment to delivering health, healing and hope to the community.
First Lady of Maryland, Dawn Moore, attended the event and expressed her sentiments about the significance of this expansion.
“This investment in GBMC is about so much more than new rooms and equipment. It’s about treating every patient as an individual. It’s about making sure no one goes overlooked and no one goes unseen," said Moore. "Governor Moore and the entire administration stand with GBMC as we work to ensure that every Marylander can access the care they need, not just because it’s an administration priority – but because that’s what it means to leave no one behind."
The Louis and Phyllis Friedman Building presents a welcoming three-story space complete with state-of-the-art facilities and amenities catering to both patients and clinical staff. It features two acute care medical/telemetry units with 60 spacious patient rooms, a modern lobby, interfaith Kahlert Chapel, Thomas Healing Garden, Women’s Hospital Foundation Conference Center, the Smith Family Foundation Atrium, and the Savage Medical Library. The addition further solidifies GBMC's promise of more than 60 years to always put the patient first.
GBMC HealthCare's President and CEO, John B. Chessare, MD, MPH, lauded the dedication and commitment of the GBMC team and the broader community. He highlighted how this project's entire approach started with an understanding of current and future patient needs and built a facility that precisely caters to those needs.
“Let this day not just be a reflection of our past but also a promise for our future. A future where we persist in striving for the highest standards of care combined with our values of understanding and compassion,” said Dr. Chessare.
The W. Lee and Mary G. Thomas Healing Garden, one of the notable features of the new building, showcases a powerful sculpture titled “We Hold Your Truth," symbolizing unity and support against hate crimes.
Substantial philanthropic backing, accounting for more than $55 million of the project's costs, has been instrumental in bringing the GBMC’s Promise Project to fruition. The completion of the Friedman Building marks an essential milestone in GBMC's 10-year facility plan, with the Sandra R. Berman Pavilion slated for completion in early 2025. The Sandra R. Berman Pavilion will consolidate all cancer care services for the convenience of patients.
“We would be remiss if we didn’t thank the community for their unwavering support of this project,” John Saunders Jr., MD, Campaign Chair, said. “From the beginning, we had volunteer leadership championing the cause and a host of fiscal supporters along the way who brought this vision to life.”
