Ascension Saint Thomas Breaks Ground This June on $148.5M Clarksville Hospital Expansion

Ascension Saint Thomas is moving forward with a $148.5 million hospital and health campus in Clarksville, Tennessee, marking a major expansion aimed at meeting the region’s rapid population and healthcare demand growth.

The groundbreaking is scheduled for June 16, 2026, with construction expected to begin immediately afterward. The facility is planned to open in 2028, introducing a modern, full-service hospital to one of Tennessee’s fastest-growing cities.

The new campus will be built on a 96-acre site at the intersection of Highway 76 and Interstate 24. It will launch with 44 inpatient beds, with built-in capacity to expand to 132 beds as demand increases.

Services will include emergency care, inpatient surgery, cardiology, oncology, women’s health, orthopedics, and a neonatal intensive care unit. The campus also integrates outpatient surgery and specialty care, designed to reduce the need for long-distance travel for routine and advanced procedures.

Integrated Care Campus Expansion

A key feature of the development is its broader medical ecosystem. Plans include an $89.5 million, 40-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital in partnership with Lifepoint Rehabilitation, a new Montgomery County EMS station, and expanded outpatient and ambulatory care facilities. Physician groups such as Tennessee Oncology, Tennessee Orthopaedic Alliance (TOA), and Ascension Saint Thomas Heart are expected to operate within the campus.

The project is part of a wider $537 million regional investment strategy by Ascension Saint Thomas focused on expanding capacity across Montgomery County. It is also expected to generate approximately 250 healthcare jobs, strengthening both clinical access and local economic activity.

Clarksville’s sustained population growth continues to pressure existing healthcare infrastructure, reinforcing the need for expanded hospital capacity and more localized specialty services.

Ascension Saint Thomas first announced plans on May 15, 2025, to develop a full-service hospital campus at Exit 11 in Clarksville. The project advanced through key regulatory milestones, receiving Certificate of Need approval from the Tennessee Health Facilities Commission on July 23, 2025. In October 2025, state approval was also granted for the inpatient rehabilitation hospital component developed in partnership with Lifepoint Rehabilitation. In early May 2026, just ahead of the scheduled groundbreaking, the project team confirmed Turner Construction as the builder and ESa as the lead architect.

The Clarksville hospital development by Ascension Saint Thomas adds to a growing pipeline of large-scale U.S. healthcare expansions, alongside projects such as the $227 million expansion underway at Aspirus Wausau Hospital.

Planned Ascension Saint Thomas (AST) Hospital in Clarksville: Project Factsheet

Project Overview

Project: Ascension Saint Thomas Clarksville Hospital

Investment: $148.5 million

Location: Northeast of Interstate 24 at Exit 11, near Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway, Clarksville, TN

Site Size: Nearly 100 acres

Facility Specifications

Initial capacity: 44 inpatient beds

Expansion capacity: 132 beds

Services: Emergency care, surgery, cardiology, oncology, orthopedics, women’s health, and NICU

Additional facilities: Outpatient surgery center and advanced imaging services

Community Impact of Planned Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital in Clarksville

Will create approximately 250 jobs during and after construction

Addresses healthcare needs in one of Tennessee’s fastest-growing cities (12% population growth since 2020)

Reduces need for residents to travel up to 50 miles for essential care

Provides greater healthcare choice for a population of nearly 250,000 currently served by only one civilian hospital

Project Timeline

May 15, 2025 – Ascension Saint Thomas announces plans for a full-service hospital in Clarksville.
July 23, 2025 – Receives Certificate of Need approval from state regulators.
October 2025 – Gains approval for inpatient rehabilitation hospital component.
May 2026 – Turner Construction and ESa named as builder and architect.
June 16, 2026 – Groundbreaking scheduled.
2028 – Target opening.

Construction Review