Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester will soon undergo a $650 million expansion and modernization project. Ground was broken on the project on Friday.
The project at the University of Rochester Medical Center’s Strong Memorial Hospital will significantly expand and modernize the hospital’s emergency department, more than tripling the size of the existing emergency department and providing more than 650,000 square feet of new hospital space. The project was awarded $50 million through the Statewide Health Care Facility Transformation Program IV.
The current 55,000-square-foot facility at Strong Memorial Hospital, the region’s only Level 1 Adult Trauma Center, receives more than 100,000 emergency department visitors annually. The expansion project will more than triple the size of the emergency department, thereby easing overcrowding situations and reducing wait times for admission to hospital.
The project is the largest in the University of Rochester’s history and is expected to be completed in 2027 consisting of two components:
- Add more than 200 examination/treatment and patient observation stations in phases to the ED and the Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program (CPEP). The ED and CPEP footprint will more than triple, from 32,000 square feet to 120,000 square feet.
- A new nine-story inpatient bed tower, which will add ED space, floors for future operating rooms and treatment services, including cardiovascular specialties, and more than 100 private inpatient rooms.
“Today marks a monumental step forward for health care in Rochester and the surrounding area as we break ground on this transformational expansion of Strong Memorial Hospital,” Governor Kathy Hochul said. “This is not just an investment in a building – it’s an investment in the well-being of our community, ensuring that every resident has access to state-of-the-art medical services and care where and when they need it most.”
University of Rochester President Sarah Mangelsdorf said, “We would like to thank Governor Hochul, Commissioner McDonald, and the Rochester-Finger Lakes NYS delegation for all of their support. The $50 million in state support for this underscores the important public benefit and role Strong Memorial Hospital plays in meeting the most urgent and life-saving health needs of our community and across upstate New York.”
Dr. Mark Taubman, University of Rochester Medical Center CEO and Dean of the School of Medicine and Dentistry said, “Today marks a new beginning for Strong Memorial Hospital and the University of Rochester as we move to expand and modernize our facility to meet the care needs of our region well into the 21st century. We are honored to celebrate with so many incredible leaders and community supporters whose partnership has been instrumental in getting us to this step in our journey. Thank you to Governor Hochul and our state delegation for their steadfast leadership.”
Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer said, “I’m proud to deliver funding for Strong Memorial Hospital because this project will ensure the Greater Rochester community will continue to receive state-of-the-art health care for decades to come,” said Senator Schumer. “The healthcare heroes at Strong Memorial Hospital provide the utmost level of care to the community, and it’s crucial that they have the space and resources they need to continue their vital work. With the largest project in their history, University of Rochester Medical Center is putting the needs of their workers and patients at the forefront and I applaud them for their continued dedication to the community.”
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said, “Strong Memorial Hospital provides lifesaving care to countless patients in the Greater Rochester region. The Strong Expansion project will ensure that Strong is one of the most advanced hospitals in the country and will increase efficiency, convenience and bed capacity for patients. I am excited to see this project enter the construction phase and will continue to fight for New York’s hospitals.”
