By Lookout Staff

They're halfway there.

Saint John's Health Center's foundation has raised half of its $125 million goal to build a new state-of-the art $315 million facility, officials announced this month.

"It's only through the generous contributions of our friends, supporters and medical staff that we are able to completely rebuild our Health Center," said Bruce Lamoureaux, Saint John's chief executive officer.

"When complete, the new Saint John's will be a truly exceptional place for health and healing," Lamoureaux said. "There will be nothing like it in Los Angeles."

The new facility was born out of the disastrous 1994 Northridge earthquake, which damaged the center's buildings, some of which date back half a century.

Facing a nine-month closure, the center's officials said they took a hard look at the health care needs of the community and searched the country for the newest and best approaches to seismic safety, clinical care and facilities design.

They concluded that the earthquake provided a rare opportunity to create a new model for delivering health care.

The project - which is currently under construction - is funded in part by a $140 million reimbursement for earthquake damage from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and philanthropy, including grants totaling $30 million from the W.M. Keck Foundation.

Private foundations, individuals and corporations also have contributed to the fundraising effort.

The new St. John's will replace the existing facilities in carefully sequenced stages, ensuring uninterrupted access to outpatient and acute care services, officials said.

Principal buildings are scheduled to be completed in 2002 and 2005.