Construction on the University of New Mexico Hospital’s (UNM) new critical care tower, an $842 million expansion project, has been completed. With a temporary certificate of occupancy issued on August 1, the hospital is now in its next crucial phase: preparing the building to open.
The nine-story tower will increase the capacity of the hospital with 24 intensive care beds, a new adult emergency department, two additional operating rooms, and improved imaging services—new MRI and CT scanners.
Next phase
This next phase—activation—is every bit as important as the actual construction,” emphasized UNM Hospital Chief Operating Officer Michael Chicarelli. “With the green light now, our teams are rolling in to install equipment, place medical supplies, and get the space ready for patient care.
Activation will also involve extensive orientation of employees, as nurses and other staff members get used to the new layout and technology within the facility. The hospital will employ 400 additional employees to man the expansion, which is expected to open in October.
UNMH remains New Mexico’s only Level 1 trauma center, so this expansion is particularly significant. It will increase the hospital’s ability to treat 24/7 the state’s most critically injured patients.
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Critical care tower part of larger efforts
The critical care tower is one phase of a larger effort to grow healthcare services and medical education. In addition to the physical expansion at the hospital, the UNM School of Medicine will be expanding class size to educate more future doctors. Hospital officials project that new facilities may increase inpatient care volume by as much as 70% in the decade to come.
Although originally projected at $700 million, the final cost went over it by over $140 million, a variation attributed to rising material costs and supply chain issues. The financing was achieved through $492 million from the hospital itself, $320 million via a government-backed mortgage, and yet another $30 million through state-issued municipal bonds.
Construction on the tower started in 2021, even though planning on the ambitious construction started in 2019. With completion now realized, UNM Hospital is now prioritizing getting the facility ready to be fully staffed and well-equipped to meet the growing healthcare demands of New Mexico.
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UNM Hospital Critical Care Tower: Project Factsheet
Project Overview
Facility: University of New Mexico Hospital Critical Care Tower
Status: Construction Complete (Temporary Certificate of Occupancy: August 1, 2025)
Expected Opening: October 2025
Total Investment: $842 million
Key Features & Capacity Expansion
9-story tower with significant capacity increases
24 new intensive care beds
New adult emergency department
2 additional operating rooms
Expanded imaging services (new MRI and CT scanners)
400 new staff positions to be added
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UNM Hospital Critical Care Tower: Project Timeline
Planning Phase: 2019
Construction Start: 2021
Construction Complete: August 2025
Activation Phase: August-October 2025
Operational Launch: October 2025
Financial Details
Original Budget: $700 million
Final Cost: $842 million (+$142 million increase)
Cost Increase Factors: Rising material costs and supply chain disruptions
Funding Sources:
Hospital funds: $492 million (58%)
Government-backed mortgage: $320 million (38%)
State municipal bonds: $30 million (4%)
Current Phase: Activation
Equipment installation and testing
Medical supply stocking
Comprehensive staff orientation and training
Technology integration and system testing
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