Healthcare: Emergency

The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Health and the Office of Disaster Recovery are constructing the Donna M. Christian Christensen MD Health Center to revitalize public medical infrastructure in Saint Croix. Flad Architects and Taller Larjas designed the 117,000-sf facility, which will support primary care, laboratory services, emergency medical care, dentistry, and environmental health, as well as behavioral health and services for women, infants, and children.

Lee Health is constructing a 535,000-sf acute care facility in Fort Myers to replace Lee Memorial. Representing an investment of approximately $434 million, the five-story structure was designed by Flad Architects to expand vital access to best-in-class treatment for the growing population of Southwest Florida. The 168-bed hospital will accommodate 42 emergency department beds, 10 operating rooms, and 236 patient rooms, empowered by integrated smart technology to optimize scheduling, clinical support, and personalized interventions. 

Nemours Children’s Health opened the Advanced Delivery Unit (ADU) in April of 2026 within their flagship hospital in Wilmington, Del. The 26,000-sf facility integrates prenatal diagnosis, imaging, and in utero procedures with delivery, surgical treatment, and postpartum recovery to create a single integrated environment for the provision of coordinated care.

Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center is engaged in a major expansion and renovation of its campus in Plains Township, Pa. The $900 million project will optimize the delivery of crucial services and transform healthcare access throughout the region. The centerpiece of the initiative is an 11-story patient tower featuring entirely private patient rooms. Designed by Francis Cauffman Architects (FCA), this world-class facility will add 144 new beds, with 58 medical/surgical beds, increasing total capacity from 356 to 500.

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.

UC Davis Health (UCDH) is constructing the 910,000-sf California Tower in Sacramento. Envisioned as a cornerstone for critical care in the region, the $3.7 billion complex will add a 14-story hospital and a five-story pavilion to the existing medical center. The resilient facility will provide approximately 334 private inpatient rooms, 250 of which can seamlessly transition to “pandemic mode” to offer additional infection isolation capabilities through negative air pressure.

ThedaCare opened a leading-edge health campus in January of 2025 in Oshkosh. Designed by HGA, the $84 million medical center will ensure seamless access to comprehensive care for patients in northeast and central Wisconsin. The 114,000-sf facility houses inpatient beds, a 24/7 emergency department, and an ambulatory surgery center. 

UCI Health opened the nation’s first all-electric acute care hospital in December of 2025 in Irvine, Calif. Designed by CO Architects, the 350,000-sf facility offers specialties in cardiology, oncology, digestive health, neurology, orthopedics, and spine care. A garden-level ‘mega-floor’ spanning 56,000 sf unites 15 standard operating rooms, five interventional procedure rooms, four advanced multispecialty interventional suites, and 64 pre-op and recovery beds.

Three projects designed by Stantec were shortlisted for the World Architecture Festival, which convened in Miami in November of 2025. 

SAC Health opened the Brier Campus in September of 2025 in San Bernardino, Calif. Designed by Perkins&Will, the $85 million outpatient facility is expected to accommodate 300,000 patient visits over the next five years to address regional health disparities. The five-story structure provides comprehensive primary care and specialty services, including internal medicine, pediatrics, orthopedics, dentistry, family medicine, ophthalmology, and women’s health.

Construction was completed in August of 2025 on the first phase of the redevelopment of Sydney Children's Hospital in Australia. Created in partnership with Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network, the Children’s Cancer Institute (CCI), the federal government, and the government of New South Wales, the AUD 658 million ($429.9 million) project includes the construction of Minderoo Children’s Comprehensive Cancer Centre to accelerate the translation of discoveries into clinical practice and improved patient outcomes. 

UCHealth is expanding the Longs Peak Hospital in Longmont, Colo., to foster improved patient outcomes and ensure the provision of high-level care in response to growing need in the surrounding community. Designed by Page, the three-part project will add 89,000 sf to the hospital campus and 35 beds, as well as 30,000 sf of interior renovation on the first three stories. The most recent phase comprised two new operating rooms, nine pre- and post-anesthesia care unit bays, three labor and delivery rooms, a caesarean-section room, and a helipad.

The University of Utah and University of Utah Health broke ground in June of 2025 on a dynamic medical destination in West Valley. Designed by MHTN Architects and CannonDesign, the $855 million project includes the construction of Eccles Hospital and the Eccles Health Campus. The 800,000-sf complex will expand access to world-class care, create new employment opportunities, and drive economic growth throughout the region.

Hospitals and healthcare systems are stepping up to manage difficult choices. COVID funds have expired, staff are difficult to find and expensive to hire, and reimbursements aren’t keeping up with inflation. For those who are planning new and renovated healthcare spaces, the focus is on becoming more labor- and cost-efficient, benefiting from technology-driven ways of delivering healthcare while not losing the personal, human touch.

The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center is constructing a $1.9 billion inpatient tower in Columbus. Designed by HDR, the 26-story building will integrate exceptional environments for patient care with leading-edge facilities for research, medical education, and training. The 1.9 million-sf development will provide 820 private rooms equipped with sophisticated telehealth technologies and entertainment systems, with ample space for visiting family members.