The Walsh-Turner Joint Venture has completed construction of Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center University Hospital, a $1.5bn project that stands as the institution’s largest single-facility development to date.
Located on the Columbus campus, the 1.9 million sq ft facility features 26 floors and accommodates 820 beds alongside a range of diagnostic, treatment and inpatient service areas.
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The hospital features 24 operating rooms, including two hybrid neurovascular suites designed for advanced imaging and complex surgical procedures.
It is equipped with more than 200 intensive care beds and a neonatal intensive care unit featuring 44 private rooms along with 51 bassinets for newborns.
In addition, nearly 100 isolation-infection rooms are available, and the hospital has the capacity to convert an entire 60-bed floor into a full isolation unit during public health emergencies.
The hospital provides nearly 100 isolation-infection rooms, with the capacity to convert an entire floor into a full-scale isolation unit during public health emergencies.
Construction work extended to adjacent facilities, notably expanding the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute by 148 beds.
This expansion positions it as the second-largest freestanding cancer hospital in the US. Additional infrastructure includes a new 60,000ft² Central Sterile Facility and a multi-storey garage offering 1,900 parking spaces to improve access for staff and visitors.
Each inpatient room is equipped with a large digital screen for telehealth consultations and information about care teams. Patient monitoring systems are installed to assist medical staff in observation duties.
Ohio State’s educational mission is supported through direct integration of students and multidisciplinary teams into clinical areas. Expanded workrooms enable instruction and case review in close proximity to patient care activities.
The facility also includes a 20,000ft² outdoor terrace, a Terrace Café with seating for 400, two coffee shops, a gift shop and a retail pharmacy.
There are 50 elevators and a two-storey escalator, which includes a dedicated ‘baby button’ that provides direct access to the labour and delivery unit from the lobby.
Walsh-Turner JV began construction in 2020 on the four-acre site, coordinating up to 1,200 workers daily at peak activity. The project saw the installation of 15,000 tonnes of structural steel and nearly 1,900 miles of wiring.
The team delivered sections of the facility an average of 40 days early and achieved overall substantial completion ahead of schedule.
Walsh Construction Healthcare senior vice-president Tom Caplis said: “Walsh Construction is incredibly proud to have partnered with Turner Construction and the Ohio State University to deliver this world-class medical facility.
“From the outset, our focus has been on precision, safety and a shared commitment to expanding access to advanced healthcare.
“Achieving substantial completion ahead of schedule reflects the strength, expertise, and leadership of our joint venture, and we are proud to see this vision for a healthier future realised.”
