Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami has reached a major milestone in its $400 million emergency department expansion project. Construction crews recently finished the first phase, opening a brand-new 178,000-square-foot facility that effectively triples the room capacity for urgent patient care. This initial opening includes over sixty general exam rooms, specialized resuscitation bays, an on-site pharmacy, and a full radiology suite designed to drastically reduce wait times.
Work is now shifting into the second phase, which focuses on renovating and modernizing the original 45,000-square-foot emergency room space. The final stage of the project will add a third floor with extra clinical rooms and a dedicated rooftop helipad to speed up life-saving air transfers to the trauma center.
Similar Project
In, another similar health infrastructure project that is taking shape in the US, Dana-Farber has broken ground on the Lavine Bekenstein Cancer Hospital. Both the Jackson Memorial Hospital expansion and the Lavine Bekenstein Cancer Hospital reflect a growing national movement toward massive investments in specialized healthcare infrastructure. While Jackson Memorial focuses on expanding emergency and trauma capacity in Miami, Lavine Bekenstein builds dedicated inpatient facilities for cancer patients in Boston. Both projects aim to transform the patient experience by pairing cutting-edge medical technology with streamlined layout designs to reduce wait times and improve health outcomes. Together, these multi-million-dollar developments demonstrate how top health systems across the country are redesigning hospital campuses to meet the rising demand for specialized, high-volume patient care.
February 16, 2024
The largest hospital in Miami, Jackson Memorial Hospital, is set to get an expansion with the construction of new emergency center. The project broken ground this week on the nonprofit medical hospital which receives an average of 120,000 emergency department patient visits annually. The construction work will also encompass the relocation and installation of underground utilities to support the larger medical building. The Jackson project will enable the expanding health system to treat patients faster. Additionally, it will reduce wait times to better serve its growing patient population in South Florida.
The Project Team
Skanska has been contracted for US$90 million to manage construction of the project. Award-winning global architecture firm HKS designed the approximately 130,000-square-foot facility. In addition, the facility which is located in the busiest emergency department within Miami-Dade County. It will include 207 new rooms, inclusive of 50 observation rooms and seven patient rooms. Further, the whole expansion project is expected to be completed in 2027.
Timelines on the expansion of the largest hospital in Miami
The new emergency department expansion is expected to be delivered in 2025. Meanwhile, the renovation to the existing emergency department totaling about 45,000 square feet will be completed in 2027. “As a leader in healthcare construction in Florida, Skanska has built a strong partnership with Jackson delivering several healthcare construction projects in the past. This project will be critical to serving the growing healthcare needs of the Miami community. We hope the emergency department renovation and expansion will have a lasting impact in helping to provide medical services to residents and visitors who rely on Jackson Health for life-saving procedures and world-class health care,” said Bob Kramer, Vice President and Account Manager for Skanska’s Florida building operations.
The Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute
Late last year, Skanska USA also announced the completion of the Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute, located in Downtown Orlando. The healthcare center was completed in two phases. The first phase encompassed the delivery of a six-story, medical office pavilion boasting 12 cutting-edge operating rooms. It also had the latest advancements in medical technology. Moreover, it includes imaging services such as an ultrafast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with augmented reality. A 62-exam room clinic, also housed in the pavilion, offers walk-in orthopedic care along with a physical therapy space featuring sports simulators for athletes. Phase two included a seven-story facility featuring the state’s first orthopedic hospital with 10 additional operating rooms. Additionally, 75 inpatient smart rooms and a bioskills lab.
The hospital was designed by Page Southerland Page Inc, a well-known architecture firm. “Deeply ingrained in the communities it serves, Skanska is committed to revolutionizing healthcare construction by delivering innovative facilities that cater to the unique needs and demands of the local community,” said Tracy Hunt, senior vice president of Skanska’s Florida operations. “Further, as the Central Florida region continues to expand, the need for new, additional healthcare facilities or improvements to existing systems is critical. Skanska looks forward to continuing its role in improving Florida’s healthcare sector.”
Factsheet: Jackson Memorial Hospital Emergency Department Expansion
Project Name: Jackson Memorial Hospital Emergency Department Expansion
Location: Miami, Florida (Jackson Health System main campus)
Total Investment: $400 million
General Contractor: Skanska
Facility Size: 178,000 square feet (new construction) plus renovation of existing 45,000-square-foot facility
Capacity and Features:
- Over 200 total patient rooms upon completion (doubling prior capacity)
- 60+ general examination rooms, resuscitation bays, triage rooms, and fast-track care areas
- 57 observation rooms for up to 24-hour stay monitoring
- 30 dedicated pediatric care rooms
- On-site pharmacy, radiology suite, and new rooftop helipad for emergency transfers
Project Timeline:
- Phase 1 Completion (New Facility Opening): April 2026
- Phase 2 (Renovation of existing space): Underway
- Final Completion Date: Fall 2027
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