Healing Has a New Home in Zachary

Lane Regional Medical Center marked a major milestone this August with the ribbon cutting of its new four-story patient tower. The celebration drew community leaders, hospital staff, and residents from across the region to see the transformation firsthand.

Founded in 1960, Lane has grown into a 139-bed regional healthcare system that serves more than 200,000 people within a 20-mile radius of Zachary. With the nearest similar facilities 45 minutes south and 90 minutes north, Lane has long been the lifeline for surrounding communities. The new tower ensures the hospital can continue meeting those needs while planning for future growth.

“It is rewarding to be a part of realizing the Board’s vision for the advancement of the community through healthcare,” says Stephanie Pielich, JJCA’s project manager.

The expansion adds 82,000 square feet of space, including 48 private patient rooms, new surgical suites, and six additional intensive care unit beds. Patient rooms now feature built-in virtual nursing, giving families faster access to specialists. The renovation also brings 30,000 square feet of improvements to existing spaces, expanded admitting and lobby areas, upgraded radiology and pre-admit testing, and a larger outpatient surgery department.

For a campus that had been shaped by decades of smaller additions, the new design creates a unified look and a modern, welcoming front door for patients and families. One design challenge, working within limited ceiling heights on the first floor, was overcome with lighting and murals to create a spacious, light-filled public area that sets the tone for the entire facility.

Lane is the largest employer in Zachary with nearly 850 team members. This investment strengthens its ability to recruit top physicians, expand services, and deliver on its mission to provide patient-centered care. More than bricks and mortar, the new tower reflects Lane’s ongoing commitment to build a healthier future for the communities it serves.