OSU Wexner Medical Center Opens University Hospital

The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center opened University Hospital in February of 2026 in Columbus. Designed by HDR, the $1.9 billion tower will drive high-impact discoveries that translate to improvements in patient care while providing outstanding clinical education to the next generation of healthcare professionals. The 1.9 million-sf development represents the largest single-facility construction project in the university’s history and offers 820 beds in private rooms equipped with sophisticated telehealth technologies. Work settings for clinical staff are concentrated in the inner core of each patient floor to reduce noise and movement in the hallways while still allowing rapid access in response to patient needs.

Illuminated by natural light, the 26-story structure houses 24 operating rooms, including two hybrid neurovascular suites for complex stroke care, as well as 234 ICU beds, 10 interventional radiology suites, a diagnostic imaging hub, and an expanded emergency department. Three dedicated maternity floors are augmented by a neonatal ICU wing with 44 private rooms. Capacity for future public health crises is addressed by approximately 100 isolation-infection rooms, with the ability to convert an entire 60-bed floor to support full isolation protocols if required. 

Accommodating a range of specialties spanning neurology, neurosurgery, critical care, and adult organ transplants, the facility also supplies the Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute with 148 additional beds. The sustainable development is targeting LEED Silver certification and features an outdoor seating terrace on the second floor. An enclosed pedestrian footbridge enhances connectivity to a parking garage with space for 1,900 vehicles.

Delivered by Turner Construction and The Walsh Group, University Hospital is part of OSU's Framework 2.0 strategic plan to advance the institution's clinical, academic, and research missions. Other team members included BR+A Consulting Engineers, Magnusson Klemencic Associates, HNTB, Engineering Economics, Inc., and DesignGroup.