Little Company of Mary Hospital has begun a $25 million renovation project that includes nearly doubling the size of its emergency department.

The Evergreen Park hospital expects the work to take two years.

“Today has been a long time in the making. What a gift to be able to transform our emergency department to meet our community’s needs for a world-class healthcare facility,” John Hanlon, the hospital’s president and CEO, said in a written statement.

“We recognize that our emergency department is the front door to our organization and oftentimes the first impression of LCM. We are not just breaking ground today, but achieving yet another important milestone in our journey.”

Visitors can also expect a “fast track” area, designed to move patients with less serious conditions through the department more quickly, as well as a “dedicated behavioral health suite,” officials said.