Health First held a topping-off beam ceremony for its new Merritt Island hospital on March 4, 2026, with hundreds of employees signing the final steel beam. The $410 million Cape Canaveral Hospital is expected to open by mid-2027 and will be built 13 feet above ground to withstand Category 4 hurricanes. The event came after a nearly yearlong pause in construction following two worker deaths in June 2025 during a wind event. The hospital will replace the existing Cape Canaveral Hospital in Cocoa Beach, which Health First plans to close as the new facility opens.
The new hospital’s design includes elevating critical infrastructure components inside the building to minimize damage during storms. Keila Stradtner, Health First’s vice president for construction and real estate, said the 13-foot elevation will protect the facility from storm surge. 'We'll be very protected and won't be flooded out,' she said during the ceremony. The project began in March 2024 but was halted after the deaths of two workers on June 4, 2025. OSHA later fined Baker Concrete and HH Construction $16,550 each in connection with the incident.
The new hospital will be located on Merritt Island, a move that Health First says will improve access to care for residents in the area. The current Cape Canaveral Hospital has been evacuated during past hurricane threats, prompting the need for a more resilient facility. The new building will include a medical office building and is designed to serve as a critical hub during extreme weather events.
Health First officials emphasized the project’s timeline, with construction expected to resume fully after the ceremony. The hospital’s opening is slated for the first half of 2027, pending final inspections and approvals. The facility will offer expanded services compared to the existing hospital, including advanced diagnostic tools and emergency care capabilities. The project remains a focus for Health First as it seeks to strengthen healthcare infrastructure in Brevard County.