The ceremonial groundbreaking at Fairfax Hospital last week symbolized the response by administrators of the behavioral health facility to the public outcry for additional resources to identify and treat mental illness.

Community and civic leaders joined hospital officials from Fairfax Hospital to turn over the first spades of dirt for the new wing slated to be built on the Kirkland campus. The additional 68 beds will make Fairfax the largest private behavioral health hospital in Washington.

“The media is full of tragic stories of what happens when patients are unable to gain access to quality care,” Fairfax CEO Ron Escarda told the gathering of dignitaries huddled under cover on the rainy morning. “This is a community problem and we remain steadfast in our commitment to be part of the solution.”

The hospital official explained that the recent tragedies in Newtown, Conn. and Aurora, Colo. have brought the issue of mental health into public focus. Escarda said the one issue that politicians have agreed on in the aftermath of the recent shootings is the need for additional care for individuals identified with mental illness.

The $20 million expansion will allow Fairfax to keep up with the demand for the full range of specialized care provided by providers at the hospital. More space, said Escarda, means more availability of services to people in need of care.

The new wing at Fairfax is expected to be ready to receive patients early next year. In addition to the extra beds, the completed structure will provide additional space for individualized treatment as well as group therapy.

The primary construction contract was awarded to the Seattle office of BNBuilders. The wing was designed by the architecture firm of Boulder Associates; the excavation will be done by Hos Brothers, KPFF will serve as the primary engineers for the project and the environmental engineering will be coordinated through McKinstry.

Executives from all four companies joined hospital officials, Kirkland Mayor Joan McBride, Councilwoman Penny Sweet and 45th District Rep. Larry Springer at the groundbreaking event.

The roots of Fairfax Hospital can be traced back to the 1930s when the facility was housed in a single building on Queen Anne in Seattle. The founders purchased an estate on the Eastside and moved the Fairfax operation to its present location in Juanita. Some of the originals buildings dating back to 1938 are still standing on the grounds of near the hospital.

Fairfax Hospital operates 24 hours a day and seven days a week. Physicians and staff are on 24-hour call to ensure continuous coverage that allows admissions to be made at any time.

More information on the hospital and the services provided is available online at www.fairfaxhospital.com or by calling 800-435-7221.