North Carolina Construction News staff writer
UNC Health has begun construction of a new medical campus in West Cary as the region prepares for continued population growth and increased demand for health-care services.
UNC Health held a groundbreaking ceremony Oct. 6 for the 48-acre campus, which will be developed in phases.
The first phase includes a six-story, approximately 192,000-sq. ft. medical office building and an adjacent parking deck with about 900 spaces. Both are scheduled to open in summer 2028.
Skanska USA is the contractor for the first phase under a $68 million contract with UNC Health. Its work includes site development and infrastructure, early equipment work, and construction of the core and shell of the medical office building and parking deck.
The medical office building will provide outpatient services including cancer care, rheumatology, heart and vascular care, urology, obstetrics and gynecology, dermatology and orthopaedics. Imaging, laboratory and pharmacy services will also be available.
The facility is also being designed as an outpatient cancer-care centre, with radiation oncology, infusion, clinical trials and the Comprehensive Cancer Support Program.
The second phase will be a 152-bed acute-care hospital. UNC Hospitals plans to begin construction on the hospital in 2028, with an opening scheduled for early 2032. A contractor for the hospital phase has not yet been publicly identified.
The campus has received approval through North Carolina’s Certificate of Need process.
UNC Health said the region is expected to add about 44,000 residents by 2035, increasing demand for medical care. The completed campus is expected to employ about 1,000 people.
The project is intended to expand access to specialty and acute care for residents of Cary, Durham and surrounding communities.
“This new facility is central to that strategy,” said Dr. Cristy Page, CEO of UNC Health.
The campus will bring outpatient services online before the hospital phase is completed, allowing UNC Health to establish medical and specialty services at the site ahead of the planned 2032 hospital opening.