CHARLESTON, SC — The Barton Malow | Edifice joint venture team has begun structural steel work at Roper St. Francis Healthcare’s future Roper Hospital campus in North Charleston, South Carolina, marking a milestone in the construction of the $1.2 billion facility. The start of steel work signals the project’s transition from below-grade construction to its vertical rise, bringing the building’s form to life on the 27-acre site.

The new campus, designed by E4H Environments for Health Architecture and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, will deliver 805,000 square feet of advanced health care space for the Lowcountry community. The building will include 328 inpatient beds, a 47-bay emergency department, 44 critical care beds, 18 operating rooms, a comprehensive imaging department, and a 12-bay hemodialysis unit. Completion is targeted for 2029.

“Beginning structural steel is a moment every project team works toward. It’s when the community will start to see the building take shape as a place they will receive care,” said Dan Buchta, Barton Malow | Edifice Vice President of Project Delivery. “We’re proud to hit this milestone on schedule and look forward to continuing to build on the momentum.”

Barton Malow | Edifice is leading construction of the Roper Hospital campus using a target-value delivery method, which allows the team to adapt design components while maintaining budget and schedule integrity. The approach has been instrumental in navigating site-specific challenges, including complex seismic conditions, FAA height restrictions, and a high-water table.