The Ohio State University made a major announcement late this afternoon about a hospital expansion that would continue to transform the growing Wexner Medical Center. A request for qualifications (RFQ) was released earlier this month for the construction of a new inpatient tower and outpatient care facility.
“The Wexner Medical Center has unprecedented opportunity for transformative growth,” stated Ohio State President Michael V. Drake. “A number of our most important indicators are at historic highs and accelerating. At the same time, our strategic plan calls for bold thinking to define the future of academic health care. We envision a medical campus in which all building projects integrate and support each other — and where the very best people work together across areas of expertise to further elevate the quality of the medical center and the entire university.”
OSU is reporting that the new hospital tower is expected to host up to 840 beds — a number larger than the 21-story 344-bed James Cancer Hospital. Upon its completion in 2014, The James represented a $1 billion medical center expansion, which will likely be dwarfed by the new project.
The new tower will be located next to existing facilities following the relocation of Cannon Drive. The announcement also includes a new ambulatory center to be located on West Campus with outpatient operating rooms, urgent care, an endoscopy unit, a pre-anesthesia center, diagnostic imaging and interventional radiology.
“Together, these projects advance key strategic focus areas for the university, including teaching and learning, research and creative expression, and academic health care,” stated Bruce A. McPheron, executive vice president and provost. “Ohio State continues to be committed to defining the flagship public research university in the 21st century.”
For more information, visit wexnermedical.osu.edu.