The University of Rochester has broken ground on the $650m Strong Memorial Hospital Emergency Department (ED) expansion and modernisation project in Rochester, New York.

Slated for completion by 2027, the project is said to be the largest capital project in the university's history.

According to the press statement, it is expected to triple the size of the existing emergency unit, adding more than 650,000ft² of new hospital space.

The current emergency department serves more than 100,000 visitors annually and is the only Level 1 Adult Trauma Center in the Finger Lakes region.

The expansion will add more than 200 examination/treatment and patient observation stations to the emergency department and Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program (CPEP).

This will increase the ED and CPEP footprint from 32,000ft² to 120,000ft².

Additionally, a new patient tower will offer more than 100 private inpatient rooms, and accommodate future operating rooms and specialised treatment services, with a focus on cardiovascular care.

The expansion has received $50m in funding through the Statewide Health Care Facility Transformation Program IV, aimed at reducing healthcare costs, improving health outcomes, and expanding access to care services.

Statewide IV authorised up to $200m for emergency department modernisations of regional significance.

This expansion will address chronic bed shortages and overcrowding issues, providing critical healthcare infrastructure for the region.