COLUMBUS, OH — The Walsh-Turner joint venture has completed construction of The Ohio State University’s $1.5 billion Wexner Medical Center University Hospital. As the largest single-facility construction project in the university’s history, the 1.9-million-square-foot facility will advance academic medicine and expand Ohio State’s capacity for research, clinical training, and patient care.
The 26-story tower accommodates 820 beds and a comprehensive suite of diagnostic, treatment, and inpatient service areas, featuring advanced spaces for emergency care, imaging, operating rooms, critical care, and medical/surgical units.
Key clinical features include:
- 24 operating rooms, including two hybrid neurovascular suites, integrating imaging and surgical capabilities for highly complex procedures
- Over 200 intensive care beds
- 44 private neonatal intensive care (NICU) rooms and 51 NICU bassinets
- Nearly 100 isolation-infection rooms, with the capacity to convert an entire 60-bed floor into a full isolation unit during public health emergencies
As part of the University Hospital project, construction activities also delivered significant benefits to the neighboring Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital, and Richard J. Solove Research Institute. Renovations and infrastructure upgrades expanded the cancer hospital’s capacity by 148 beds, making it the nation’s second-largest freestanding cancer hospital.
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In addition, a new 60,000-square-foot Central Sterile Facility was constructed to support the University Hospital and surrounding Ohio State University health care facilities. A new 1,900-space hospital garage also improves access for staff and visitors.
The Walsh-Turner team broke ground on the project in 2020, managing a complex construction process on a 4-acre site. At the peak of activity, the joint venture coordinated 1,200 workers daily, resulting in the installation of 15,000 tons of structural steel and nearly 1,900 miles of wiring. The project’s scale and complexity required a unified and coordinated approach. Walsh-Turner turned over areas of the hospital an average of 40 days early and achieved substantial completion ahead of schedule.
“Walsh Construction is incredibly proud to have partnered with Turner Construction and The Ohio State University to deliver this world-class medical facility,” said Tom Caplis, Senior Vice President of Healthcare at Walsh Construction. “From the outset, our focus has been on precision, safety, and a shared commitment to expanding access to advanced health care. 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 realized.”
“We are honored to deliver this transformative facility for Ohio State,” said Nigel Carter, Vice President & Construction Executive at Turner Construction Company. “The scale and complexity of this project required extraordinary alignment across the entire team. Their collaboration, discipline, and dedication established a new benchmark for how major health care projects can be delivered."
