A local health system announced Thursday that it is moving forward with the largest capital project in its 35-year history.

The $139 million expansion and renovation project at Unity Health System in Greece will add a fourth floor to the three-floor hospital, and 35 new beds.

CEO Warren Hern said it will also give Unity the option to add 50 more beds in the future should the hospital need them.

Unity said the hospital has been operating at an average occupancy rate well above the industry standard of 85 percent for the last seven years. Its emergency center is often in "code red" because of high patient volumes.

The hospital’s COO Stewart Putnam said the project will help relieve the current high occupancy rate and position it to deal with the aging population and competition in the region.

"We'll be the only hospital, even when all the other projects are done, that will have all private single rooms. And I think it will be very technologically advanced in terms of the capabilities around new technologies both clinical and information technology," Putnam said.

The Town of Greece Planning Board must still approve the plan. The board will meet in March; if approved, construction will begin in April.

Unity said the project will create 300 construction jobs and 265 hospital jobs when its completed in 2014.

Unity Health