EDMONDS—Verdant Health Commissioners celebrated the completion of the two-year, $9 million, renovation of the Kruger Medical Building, located on the Providence-Swedish Edmonds Campus, with a renaming ceremony dedicated to former Public Hospital Commissioner Fredrick “Fred” Peter Langer. Snohomish County Public Hospital District No. 2, now operates as Verdant Health Commission.
“I love that this facility is being renamed for an individual who said, ‘We have a need in this community, and we can and should do better,’ and he set out to do it,” Edmonds Mayor Mike Rosen said at the dedication ceremony. “I love that Verdant looked at this building and said we need to do better, and we can, and we should, and we did, and it shows.”
Mayor Rosen emphasized his appreciation to the healthcare workers who, now because of the renovation, will provide residents “the health and healing they deserve.”
The newly renamed Langer Medical Building houses Swedish Urgent Care, gastro providers Swedish Gastroenterology and Gastro Health, Swedish Hyperbarics, Swedish Pediatrics, Swedish Wound Center, Edmonds Medical Clinic, the dental office of Raymond Liu, and Swedish Operational Support.
“I can tell you that my son loved each and every one of you,” Carole Wilson, mother of Fred Langer said shortly after the unveiling of his plaque at the newly renamed building. “My son was very proud of what he did… We are very lucky to have had him. We will miss him, but you have memorialized him and I thank you.”
After a three-year battle with cancer, Commissioner Langer passed away on December 17, 2021, shortly after resigning from his position in October 2021 to focus on his health.
“I really miss Fred, he was a driving force,” Commissioner Deana Knutsen, who worked directly with Commissioner Langer, shared with attendees. “He and I worked as a team all those years to do a lot of really important things for the community.”
Langer’s service to Snohomish County began in 1998 as a commissioner for what was then Steven’s Hospital. Langer was an instrumental part in negotiating the lease of the hospital to the Swedish Healthcare system and in the formation of the Verdant Health Commission.
“The building needed some love and some TLC,” Lisa Edwards, Superintendent of Verdant Health Commission told the Lynnwood Times. “To retain the tenants we have and to maximize the use of the facility we needed to update it.”
Edwards shared that the $9 million in renovations included a new HVAC system, new carpets, doors, walls, windows, signage, electrical infrastructure, and even new backup generators.
“Dr. Kruger built this building in 1986 for out patience services connected to the hospital. Through the renaming, we actually met his widow and took the plaque of Dr. Kruger and gave it to the family so they will have it at their house,” Edwards added.
Verdant Health Commission, a publicly owned public hospital district, acts as a steward of the hospital campus in Edmonds that is leased to Providence-Swedish and has the responsibility to ensure a full range of acute hospital and outpatient services for residents of South Snohomish County.
Revenue from Providence-Swedish Edmonds Campus, which included the newly renamed Langer Building (formerly Kruger Medical), are invested in programs that enhance the overall health and wellbeing of South County residents. Since Verdant’s inception in 2011, upwards of $87 million has been reinvested back into the hospital district to enhance overall health and wellbeing of South County residents.
Verdant Health Commission is currently accepting 2026 funding applications from June 2 through July 11, 2025. Learn more at www.verdanthealth.org.
Author: Mario Lotmore
