New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg today joined with members of the New York Mets, patients, physicians, administrators, trustees and other supporters of the North Shore-LIJ Health System in breaking ground on Long Island Jewish Medical Center’s Katz Women’s Hospital. The hospital is to be housed in a new $300 million, 10-story pavilion being built in front of the existing 54-year-old hospital in Queens.

Later this month, construction will begin on the Katz Women’s Hospital at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, NY, a rendering of which appears in the foreground as North Shore-LIJ President and CEO Michael Dowling addresses the crowd.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi.

U.S. Representative Carolyn McCarthy, left, and Neeta Shah, MD, vice president of women's health services for the North Shore-LIJ Health System.

Saul Katz addresses the crowd.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg speaks next to a rendering of LIJ Medical Center's $300 million, 10-story pavilion. Seven of the 10 floors in the new building will house the Katz Women's Hospital.

A model of LIJ's inpatient pavilion is shown in the foreground of the existing LIJ Hospital.

Shovels and hard hats were in large supply at the groundbreaking.