Caregivers leave their mark on the future of care at Providence Swedish
Hundreds of caregivers turned out to celebrate the Providence Swedish milestone and put their signatures the final steel beam of the First Hill campus's new North Patient Tower.
Hundreds of Providence Swedish caregivers gathered on June 3 for a once-in-a-generation opportunity: to sign the final steel beam that will be placed atop the new North Patient Tower on the First Hill campus. The event marked a major milestone in the construction of the 12-story tower, featuring state-of-the-art facilities and care.
Making their mark: Caregivers signing the final beam of the new North Patient Tower.
Before the beam was opened for signatures, it was treated with a special fireproof paint – meaning it will not require spray-on fireproofing, and the names written in permanent marker will remain visible in a mechanical room for decades to come. It’s a rare chance for caregivers to leave a visible, lasting impression on the place where they’ve dedicated so much time and care.
One of the first to sign was Penny Steele, RN, a Cherry Hill nurse with 43 years of service. Despite being off that day, she made a special trip to First Hill to leave her signature. “This is an important moment,” said Steele. “I’ve been here at Swedish since 1978, and I just want to make sure that my mark was left here – and now it’s going to be in infamy.” 
Penny Steel, an RN at Providence Swedish Cherry Hill campus for 43 years was, fittingly, one of the first caregivers to sign the final beam of the First Hill campus's new North Patient Tower. Steel made the trip on her day off.
The North Patient Tower broke ground in early 2024 and will be a transformative addition to Swedish’s First Hill campus. It’s the largest capital project in the health system’s 115-year history. More than a decade in planning, the $1.3 billion project, which is scheduled to open in fall 2027, will add 750,000 square feet of leading-edge, patient-focused and efficient clinical space.
Some of the standout elements of this patient tower will include:
- A new emergency department, with dedicated behavioral health rooms
- 24 advanced operating suites
- Cardiac procedure rooms
- Medical imaging
- 72 acuity-adaptable ICU beds
- Below-grade parking and support services
New public concourse and registration area that links to a modernized public entry
The North Patient Tower project is being made possible thanks in part to extraordinary philanthropic support from individuals and organizations. Longtime Swedish Foundation supporters, The Robert and Jean Reid Family Foundation, made a remarkable estate commitment to support clinical research and care for cancer and heart patients. The Reid Foundation’s lifetime giving to Swedish, including this planned gift, exceeds $20 million.
In addition, the Swedish medical staff – more than 3,500 physicians and advanced practice clinicians – collectively pledged $500,000 to support the tower. Their contribution underscores the deep dedication of our caregivers to enhancing the patient and caregiver experience at Swedish First Hill.
About Providence Swedish
Providence Swedish has served the Puget Sound region since the first Providence hospital opened in Seattle in 1877 and the first Swedish hospital opened in 1910. The two organizations affiliated in 2012 and today comprise the largest health care delivery system in Western Washington, with 22,000 caregivers, eight hospitals and 244 clinics throughout Western Washington – from Everett to Centralia. A not-for-profit family of organizations, Providence Swedish provides more than $545 million in community benefit in the Puget Sound region each year. The health system offers a comprehensive range of services and specialty and subspecialty care in a number of clinical areas, including cancer, cardiovascular health, neurosciences, orthopedics, digestive health and women’s and children’s care.
