By Jeff Wardon, Jr., Assistant Editor

Leaders from the University of Rochester and University of Rochester Medical Center, Federal, State and local government, and community supporters gathered to celebrate the University’s largest capital project in its history. When completed, the Strong Expansion Project will more than triple the size of Strong Memorial Hospital’s Emergency Department and add a new, nine-story patient tower, resulting in 650,000 square feet of space.

The groundbreaking event recognized the completion of enabling projects and excavation that prepared the site for the project, and the start of new construction.

Expected to be completed in 2027, the project will help address chronic bed shortages and ED overcrowding issues that the community has faced for years.

It will add more than 200 examination/treatment and patient observation stations in phases to the ED and the Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program (CPEP). The combined ED and CPEP footprint will more than triple, from 32,000 square feet to 120,000 square feet.

Plans also include a nine-story inpatient bed tower, which will add ED space, more than 100 private inpatient rooms, and floors for future operating rooms and treatment services.