Nick Wilt helps cut the ribbon on UofL Hospital's West Tower expansion

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A local hero helped cut the ribbon Wednesday on a new section of University of Louisville Hospital.

Former Louisville Metro Police officer Nick Wilt, who was treated at UofL after being shot when responding to the mass shooting at Old National Bank in April 2023, helped cut the ribbon on the new seven-story West Tower.

The $186 million West Tower serves as the hospital's new front door. It features a two-story atrium, concierge desk, chapel, coffee shop and gift shop.

The new tower also adds new surgical suites, inpatient rooms, and a 24-bed observation unit to ease the demand on one of Kentucky's busiest emergency departments. UofL Hospital houses the region's only Level 1 trauma center for adults.

"It's all about our people. The people that come in day in and day out who work to serve people who won't be treated elsewhere," UofL President Gerry Bradley said. "We are the safety net, we are the place where we treat people that others won't take."

The West Tower project adds more than 193,000 square feet to the hospital, which is a 43% increase.

The combined impact on the additional patient rooms and the observation unit create room for about 100 more patients.

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