WASHINGTON, DC — Mayor Muriel Bowser, Universal Health Services (UHS), George Washington University, and Children’s National Hospital recently broke ground on the new Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center, GW Health in Ward 8 on the St. Elizabeths East Campus.

Made possible through a public-private partnership between the Government of the District of Columbia and UHS, the $375-million project includes a 136-bed, 285,000-square-foot full-service hospital, a 77,000-square-foot ambulatory pavilion for physician offices, clinics, and community space, a 500-car parking garage, and a helipad for emergency transports.

Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center, GW Health will be the first inpatient facility to be built in the District in more than 20 years. The project is being designed by HOK and McKissack & McKissack and built by Turner Construction Company and MCN Build.

Services at the medical center will include newborn delivery and a neonatal intensive care unit, academic medicine and pediatric care, women’s health services, adult and children emergency departments, a certified trauma center, behavioral and mental health, specialty care, and outpatient services.

“The new Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center, GW Health at St. Elizabeths East is a groundbreaking project that will have a lasting impact on our community and the city,” said Mitchell Collin, Regional Leader of Healthcare for HOK. “The design and services offered will improve health outcomes, mitigate disparities, and provide residents access to much-needed health services that are transformative for residents in Wards 7 and 8.”

The new medical center and urgent care facilities will establish a system of care for all District residents, especially in communities east of the Anacostia River. These health assets and investments will aim to change the trajectory of the District’s communities of color, whose health outcomes are consistently lower. A resident born in Ward 8 has a life expectancy that is 15 years less than a resident born in Ward 3.

The plan integrates the hospital into the 10-acre campus with plazas, outdoor spaces, and green space. Materials including the classic red-brick facade take cues from historic campus buildings. Large expanses of glass will draw light into the space to promote healing while connecting patients, staff, and visitors to their surroundings.

The project is part of a larger campus redevelopment plan and is designed to accommodate future growth. An expansive community engagement process will ensure the design reflects and supports the community. The project design and community engagement strategies will ensure the hospital is a good neighbor and a driving force for population health.

Nearly $100 million will be spent with District Certified Business Enterprises (CBEs) during construction. The project will support nearly 2,000 jobs and create at least 50 apprenticeships, with more than 300 workers on-site daily at the peak of construction.

The Washington-based team includes nationally recognized firms with local offices, including WSP as the MEP engineer, Delon Hampton & Associates, Chartered as the civil engineer, and Walter P Moore as the structural engineer. To support Washington businesses, more than 40 percent of the design and engineering team will be made up of local CBEs. The project is expected to open in December 2024.