SARASOTA (Oct. 8, 2025) – Sarasota Memorial Health Care System is advancing plans for a new, $82.5 million Rehabilitation Pavilion at its VENICE CAMPUS, bringing its nationally recognized inpatient and outpatient REHABILITATION SERVICES into south Sarasota County. Locating the pavilion on the Venice hospital campus will ensure a seamless, more convenient transition from the hospital to the new inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation facility.
The Sarasota County Public Hospital Board approved funding for the projects in September, and this month SMH selected architects Gresham Smith, who designed the rehabilitation pavilion on SMH’s Sarasota campus, and general contractor Deangelis Diamond to design and build the 83,000-square-foot facility. Construction is expected to take roughly two years, with the pavilion opening for patient care in early-2028.
Maria DeCarlo, SMH Vice President of Post-Acute & Rehabilitation
The four-story pavilion will consist of four floors. Levels two and three will be dedicated inpatient rehabilitation units with 50 private patient suites, advanced therapy gyms, mobility-training areas, and therapy tools and spaces that replicate real-life activities and environments, including an apartment, kitchen, car and grocery store, to support recovery and independent living. The first level will provide outpatient rehabilitation therapy and administrative space, while a shelled fourth floor will allow for future expansion. To accommodate the structure, campus parking in front of the facility will be reconfigured but preserved.
“This pavilion reflects our long-term commitment to providing comprehensive rehabilitation for people of our community,” said Maria DeCarlo, SMH Vice President of Post-Acute & Rehabilitation. “It will mirror the nationally recognized programs and amenities at our Sarasota campus while offering care closer to home to residents in the growing south county community.”
The Rehabilitation Pavilion at SMH-Sarasota has been operating at or near full capacity since it opened in 2017, and was expanded from 44 to 54 beds in 2018 and to 60 beds in 2022. Last month, the hospital board also approved $5.6 million to expand the Sarasota campus rehabilitation pavilion again by seven more beds, bringing the total to 67. That expansion will begin next spring with the new wing opening in early 2027.
SMH’s Rehabilitation Pavilion in Sarasota is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) for its comprehensive Medical Rehabilitation Program, along with an additional Stroke Specialty Certification recognizing excellence in stroke rehabilitative care. It has consistently been recognized for superior patient outcomes and care by several independent rating organizations, including U.S. News & World Report and Newsweek.
About Sarasota Memorial Health Care System
Sarasota Memorial Health Care System is a regional medical center offering Southwest Florida’s greatest breadth and depth of care, with 2,500 physicians and advanced practice providers and nearly 2 million patient visits a year across its network of care. Sarasota County’s largest employer, the community-owned health system includes two full-service hospitals in Sarasota and Venice, freestanding ERs in North Port and Lakewood Ranch, a comprehensive cancer institute, a rehabilitation hospital, behavioral health hospital, skilled nursing facility and comprehensive network of outpatient centers, urgent care clinics and physician practices. Founded in 1925, SMH is celebrating its 100-year anniversary in 2025 and encouraging community members to visit SMH.COM/100 throughout the year for centennial events and updates.
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