Henry Ford Health Constructs Destination: Grand in Detroit

Henry Ford Health is constructing a campus expansion and modernization project known as Destination: Grand in Detroit to advance medical excellence. Shaped by the collective architectural vision of HDR, Hamilton Anderson Associates, and DLR Group | Tsoi Kobus Design, the $2.2 billion facility will leverage interactive smart technologies including AI and autonomous mobile robots to transform the delivery of next-generation treatment. The new 20-story tower will house 432 private patient rooms, five floors of specialized intensive care units, and 28 operating suites capable of handling the most surgically complex cases.

Providing 100 flexible exam spaces, a 75,000-sf emergency department on the ground level will accommodate trauma and resuscitation bays as well as a dedicated pathogen venue, a secure 10-room behavioural health unit, and a pharmacy. The top three stories will be occupied by a 72-bed zone for inpatient physical medicine and rehabilitation services operated by Shirley Ryan AbilityLab.

Targeting net-zero carbon emissions by 2040, the 1.2 million-sf structure will feature areas for interdisciplinary teams, the families and caregivers of patients, and staff support, along with open-air gathering environments and gardens. Other additions to the site include a 185,000-sf shared services building, a 1,500-vehicle parking garage, and a 46,000-sf central energy hub. The all-electric tower will enable seamless movement across the wider campus through a series of bridges connecting to the Brigitte Harris Cancer Pavilion and the existing Henry Ford Hospital, where all remaining 449 patient beds will be converted into private rooms.

The expansion is being built by a joint venture known as BTD comprised of Barton Malow, Turner Construction, and Dixon Construction Services. Ground was broken in September of 2024 and occupancy is anticipated in 2029. The project represents part of the broader $3 billion Future of Health: Detroit initiative to reimagine the New Center neighborhood as a mixed-use district, with a medical research facility at Michigan State University currently slated to open in 2027.