Roper St. Francis Continues 150-Year Tradition of Caring with New Heart & Vascular Tower
Employees, Physicians, Volunteers and Community Invited to Opening Festivities

From a time capsule and butterfly release to a black tie gala and community health day, Roper St. Francis Healthcare (RSFH) is planning a weeklong assortment of special events, April 17–23, to celebrate the opening of its new, state-of-the-art Heart and Vascular Tower at Roper Hospital’s campus in downtown Charleston. 

The new Tower, a $77.4 million expansion project, is not only a central location for all Roper St. Francis Heart and Vascular Services, but also serves as the new main entrance to Roper Hospital on Calhoun Street, and houses a new outpatient surgery center and first-rate patient and guest amenities.

“The new Roper St. Francis Heart and Vascular Tower offers comprehensive cardiovascular care centrally located in one building,” said Matthew J. Severance, Roper Hospital CEO and Senior Vice President, Operations.   “It is here that  tomorrow’s technology merges with compassionate patient care to create a one-of-a-kind center for health and healing.  We’re changing the face of healthcare in the Lowcountry.”

A WEEK OF FESTIVITIES – April 17 - 23

Beginning April 17, the spotlight will be on the new Tower – literally – as each evening the new 7-story, 246,000-square-foot structure is dramatically lit with a rainbow of changing colors to focus on its signature Art Deco influences, streamlined window wells and a distinctive new marquee.

Other highlights of the week’s activities include:

EMPLOYEE & VOLUNTEER DAY- Wednesday, April 19,

7 a.m. – 4 p.m.

A time capsule presentation, the raising of the Roper St. Francis Healthcare flag, confetti canons, and the release of hundreds of butterflies will highlight events on Wednesday, April 19, as Roper St. Francis Healthcare employees and volunteers become the first to officially tour the new Tower from 7-9 a.m. and 2-4 p.m.  At lunchtime (11 a.m.–2 p.m.), the group will be treated to an outdoor picnic lunch.

A special dedication program will take place at 3 p.m.  The time capsule is being filled with items selected by Roper Hospital employees and will be opened in 2050 on the 200th Anniversary of Roper Hospital.  Former and present patients of the Roper St. Francis Heart and Vascular Center will participate in the release of some 300 butterflies, all of which are indigenous to the Carolinas.  A live web cast of the dedication program will be available on the Roper St. Francis intranet as well as  remote viewing areas at St. Francis Hospital and Roper St. Francis Medical Center Berkeley in Moncks Corner.  In addition, virtual tours are provided on the Tower's website.

A TRIBUTE TO JULIAN T. BUXTON JR. MD – Thursday, April 20, 11:30 a.m.

On Thursday, April 20, a private ceremony is planned to dedicate the new Tower’s 7th Floor – the Julian T. Buxton Jr. MD Surgical Pavilion.  The late Dr. Buxton was the healthcare system’s first board chairman and one of Charleston’s best-known and admired physicians.  Members of Dr. Buxton’s family and invited guests will participate in the ceremony, to take place in the courtyard at the Governor Thomas Bennett House, followed by lunch and tours of the Buxton Surgical Pavilion.  At the ceremony, family members will unveil a specially commissioned portrait of Dr. Buxton that will hang at the entrance of the 7th Floor Surgical Pavilion that bears his name.

VIP BLACK-TIE GALA – Friday, April 21, 7 – 10 p.m.

State and local dignitaries will join Roper St. Francis physicians, board members, administrators and other invited guests for a black-tie gala on Friday, April 21 to celebrate the Tower’s opening.  The evening’s activities will include a silent art auction with more than 90 pieces of artwork donated for this occasion by local artists including William McCullough, Rhett Thurman and Karen Hewitt Hagan.  Guests will be treated to “heart healthy” hors d’oeuvres and other gourmet offerings specially prepared for the evening by Stephen Duvall Catering & Events.   In between guided tours, guests will enjoy music by the Joe Clarke Quartet.  A brief program is scheduled for 8 p.m.

COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSE – Sunday, April 23, 1 – 4 p.m.

On Sunday, April 23, Lowcountry residents are invited to tour the new Tower from 1-4 p.m.  While on tour, guests will have an opportunity to take advantage of a number of health screenings, including stroke and cancer risk assessments, blood pressure checks, and tests for blood sugar and bone density. In addition, information will be available on vascular health, imaging, food and nutrition and Roper St. Francis Senior Services including Advantage and Lowcountry Senior Services.   Refreshments and giveaways will also be provided. View your invitation here.

ABOUT ROPER ST. FRANCIS HEART AND VASCULAR TOWER

The new Roper St. Francis Heart and Vascular Tower is an innovative one-stop center for patients seeking prevention, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care.  Expansive operating rooms,  specialized patient care units, diagnostic and interventional treatment labs, and an outpatient vascular center incorporate all of Roper St. Francis heart and vascular services into one specialized building.

The Tower will house 147 large, private patient rooms, many of which feature expansive views of Charleston Harbor. Patient rooms on the Buxton Surgical Pavilion – often referred to as the crowning jewel of the new Tower – have been specially designed with advanced, in-room treatment equipment for recovering surgery patients.  The Buxton Pavilion will also feature an inspiring memorial dedicated to Dr. Buxton including many photographs from the late surgeon’s life.

The Tower also includes:

• A new ambulatory surgery center with six operating rooms
• A new Chapel, portions of which were saved from the former Roper Hospital chapel and reused to provide a sense of continuity
• A large, new gift shop, complete with hardwood floors and wood trim

Valet parking and local artwork are among additional the amenities offered at the new Roper St. Francis Heart and Vascular Tower.

Roper Hospital was founded in 1850 as the first community hospital in the Carolinas.  It is home to the oldest vascular lab in continuous operation in the United States and enjoys a reputation for providing the most modern surgical care and treatment, from pioneering a new heart valve replacement surgery in 1948, to today’s leading edge technology such as a minimally invasive heart surgery and carotid artery stent implantation.