The Jackson Memorial Hospital treats over 120,000 patients in the ER annually. And with a growing population, the medical infrastructure is stretched to its limit. To provide exceptional service to the residents, the Jackson Memorial Hospital will expand its current capacity. It is estimated that by 2036, the ER will be treating more than 170,000 patients annually.

Skanska USA, a top player in the construction and development industry, has announced a new contract with Jackson Health System in Miami, Florida. The initial agreement, valued at $90 million, is part of a broader project expected to reach $300 million upon completion. This ambitious project aims to renovate and expand the emergency department at Jackson Memorial Hospital.

The project involves tearing down two existing buildings to make room for the expansion, ultimately tripling the size of the emergency department. This expansion is critical for the hospital, situated in the bustling Miami Health District. 

The plan, designed by the renowned architecture firm HKS, will add roughly 130,000 square feet of space to the busiest emergency department in Miami-Dade County. The new facility will boast 207 rooms, including 50 for observation and seven patient rooms.

This expansion will help to reduce wait time for patients seeking medical assistance, and over 70% of in-patients are routed through the ER.

The emergency room was long overdue for an upgrade. The current facility is over 50 years old and has not seen much improvement since it first opened its doors in 1978. 

With an increasing patient load, doctors often have to create makeshift arrangements in the hallways to treat patients.

Bob Kramer, Skanska’s Vice President and Account Manager for Florida building operations, highlighted the company’s history with Jackson Health System, noting, “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.” Kramer expressed hope that the emergency department’s renovation and expansion would significantly impact the community’s access to medical services.

“This new emergency department will definitely transform the way we’re able to provide care by providing individual rooms for all patients, eliminate hall spots” explained Dr. Hany Atallah, chief medical officer at Jackson Memorial Hospital.

In addition to expanding the emergency department, the project includes relocating and upgrading underground utilities to support the new, larger medical facility. This upgrade is expected to improve patient triage and reduce wait times, addressing the health system’s needs as it serves an expanding patient base in South Florida.

The emergency department’s new section is slated for completion in 2025, while renovations to the existing area, approximately 45,000 square feet, are set to finish in 2027. 

Skanska’s commitment to transforming healthcare facilities in Florida is evident in its portfolio, which includes the modernization of the Jackson Project D floor in 2019, the construction of the Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute, the expansion of the Gulf Coast Medical Center in Fort Myers, and the renovation of the Salah Foundation Children’s Hospital at Broward Health.