Construction Ceremony Honors Significant Growth of Strong Memorial Hospital's Extension Scheme
The Strong Expansion Project at the University of Rochester Medical Center is making significant strides in enhancing healthcare services, particularly for pediatric and emergency care.
The project, the largest capital project in the university's history, is expected to be completed in 2027. It includes a new nine-story patient tower, which will add capacity to the Golisano Children’s Hospital. This expansion will include a dedicated pediatric Emergency Department, aiming to increase access to timely, specialized emergency care for children.
The Golisano Children’s Hospital, part of Strong Memorial Hospital, celebrated its 10-year anniversary in 2025. Since opening a major expansion tower in 2015, the hospital has served over 85,000 children annually and has facilitated over 30,000 pediatric surgeries and 10,000 critical care admissions. The new expansion will further bolster these services, providing more inpatient capacity and advanced care.
The expansion reflects a broader institutional emphasis on equity, quality, innovation, and community-focused care. The goal is to extend advanced pediatric services more directly into the community and address the needs of vulnerable populations.
Regarding the Emergency Department, the expansion project will more than triple its size, from 32,000 square feet to 120,000 square feet. This increase will result in 200 new examination/treatment and patient observation stations.
The project also includes plans for 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. This will address chronic bed shortages and ED overcrowding issues in the community.
The Strong Expansion Project is supported by various local and state officials, including NYS Senator Samra Brouk, NYS Senator Jeremy Cooney, NYS Assemblymember Jennifer Lunsford, NYS Assemblymember Harry Bronson, and NYS Assemblymember Demond Meeks. Monroe County Executive Adam Bello believes the Emergency Department expansion project will have a transformative impact on the community, preserving and expanding emergency medical care for patients throughout the Finger Lakes region.
Rochester Mayor Malik Evans considers the expansion to transform the region for generations to come, highlighting the healthcare and economic benefits. NYS Assemblymember Josh Jensen applauds the University of Rochester for their commitment to the expansion project and their dedication to the community.
The Strong Memorial Hospital expansion is uniquely equipped to address the needs of the region and its residents, making it one of the nation's largest hospitals. The project is a critical step in the long-term growth and service modernization of the University of Rochester Medical Center.
[1] University of Rochester Medical Center. (2022). Strong Expansion Project. Retrieved from https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/about/strong-expansion-project.aspx
- The new inpatient bed tower, part of the Strong Expansion Project, will increase the bed capacity at the Golisano Children’s Hospital, addressing chronic bed shortages in the community.
- The expansion of the emergency department at the Golisano Children’s Hospital, made possible by the Strong Expansion Project, aims to improve emergency care for children and address overcrowding issues.
- The Strong Expansion Project's emphasis on health-and-wellness and medical-conditions extends beyond the hospital's walls, with a focus on delivering science-based advancements in pediatric care and addressing the needs of vulnerable populations in the community.
