The Georgia Department of Community Health has officially approved plans for a new hospital in Acworth, Georgia led by Wellstar Health System. The eight-story facility will cost around $1 billion to $1.1 billion, and aims to meet rapidly increasing healthcare demand in Cobb, Paulding, Cherokee and Bartow counties. Construction is expected to span several years, and Wellstar says it will harness existing infrastructure and regional growth trends.
Strategic Significance
Wellstar’s new hospital will bolster its capacity across the fast-growing north-metro Atlanta corridor. Community leaders say the region is projected to add roughly 25,000 residents by 2030, driving demand for advanced hospital services. The facility’s scale, with 70 emergency bays and eight ORs, signals a shift toward handling higher-acuity cases rather than just routine care. The company also argues that competing health systems lacked the operational readiness to match this project’s scope. By expanding in Acworth, Wellstar positions itself to serve multiple contiguous counties with a unified hub of specialized care, reducing patient travel times and improving emergency responsiveness.
Project Factsheet
Location: Along Cobb Parkway (U.S. 41) in Acworth, GA
Developer / Owner: Wellstar Health System
Floor area: Approximately 675,000 square feet
Bed count: 230 beds
Emergency department bays: 70
Operating rooms: 8
Story count: Eight-story building
Cost estimate: $1 billion to $1.1 billion
Anticipated jobs: More than 1,500 healthcare-related jobs in region
Target service area: Cobb, Paulding, Cherokee and Bartow counties
Population growth driver: Region expected to gain nearly 25,000 residents by 2030
Estimated opening: Mid to late-2030s (indicative from planning timeline)
Design and Infrastructure Insights
The 675,000 sq ft footprint places the hospital among the larger newly-planned healthcare campuses in the region. The eight-story design allows for a vertical-integrated facility with inpatient wards, outpatient services, emergency departments and surgical suites under one roof. Wellstar previously cited the adjacent Health Park in Acworth as a strategic anchor, with the new hospital across from its busiest wellness hub. By aligning with existing infrastructure, Wellstar aims to create operational synergies and smooth patient transitions from ambulatory to acute care services.
Next Steps & Outlook
With certificate-of-need approval secured, detailed design, permitting and site development will take centre stage. Construction timelines typically run several years for a facility of this size, so opening is likely in the early 2030s. During this phase, project stakeholders will need to secure contractors, refine programming, select equipment and manage local community impacts. For SEO and local interest, this project stands out as a major investment in Georgia healthcare infrastructure, signalling that the Acworth area is becoming a hub for advanced services. Residents and local businesses should expect increased employment opportunities and expanded medical access. As the region grows, this hospital may shift how care is delivered in north Metro Atlanta. It joins a wave of major U.S. healthcare developments highlighted in key healthcare construction projects in the United States. This makes it a key story for healthcare, construction, regional development and workforce planning audiences.
