The new Florida Hospital Apopka is nearing its official opening next month, and now the hospital opened its doors for a special preview event.

The 320,000-square-foot hospital, located at 2100 Ocoee Apopka Road, will bring world-class care closer to home for residents of west Orange County with 120 private inpatient rooms, expanded surgical services, advanced surgical suites and a catheterization lab.

The seven-story building will also feature a 30,000-square-foot emergency department -- six times the size of the current hospital's ED -- with pediatric-friendly beds, imaging services, a full-service cafeteria, chapel and gift shop. And the Apopka Fire Department will have a station on the property in the months ahead.

"This hospital will serve the new gateway to Apopka," said Apopka Mayor Joe Kilsheimer. "I see it as a catalyst for further development in health care and other sectors, bringing more high-paying jobs and contributing to a rising quality of life for all Apopkans."

The hospital, which replaces the longtime Florida Hospital Apopka on Park Avenue, is set to open in early December. An exact date for the opening will be announced in the coming days.

"Florida Hospital has been a part of the Apopka community for more than 40 years, and this building symbolizes our commitment to Apopka for decades to come," said Tim Cook, administrator of Florida Hospital Apopka. "We are excited to offer expanded services in this first-class facility as part of our mission to deliver health care close to home for everyone in Central Florida."

The community is invited to a special opening event on Sunday, Nov. 26 from 1-4 p.m.