Hospital expansion in Upstate unveiled to encompass more than an emergency room: demolished structures, new ICU units, and additional facilities included
In an exciting development for the healthcare sector in Syracuse, New York, Upstate Medical University has announced plans to construct a new emergency department (ED) annex. The project, which is expected to occupy an entire city block and connect to the main hospital, will include new operating rooms, intensive care unit (ICU) beds, a partial imaging suite with medical and diagnostic imaging, labs, radiology facilities, and shell space for future expansion [1].
The construction will involve the demolition of up to four existing buildings, including twin 10-story former dormitory towers converted into office space, a campus activities building with a pool and workout areas, and the Center for Bioethics and Humanities. The university will relocate the current occupants of these buildings to accommodate the new annex [1][2][3].
The project, the first step in a multi-year process to remake the area's only Level 1 trauma ER, aims to replace the current emergency room at Upstate Medical University. While the precise timeline is not detailed in the available information, the project is currently at the bidding phase as of early August 2025, indicating that construction is expected to begin soon thereafter [1].
The anticipated impact on community needs includes expanded emergency room capacity and critical care resources through added ICU beds and enhanced diagnostic and imaging capabilities. This expansion aims to improve emergency services and address increasing healthcare demands in the Syracuse area [1].
Meanwhile, the current emergency room at Upstate Medical University has been identified as not meeting the community's needs, with issues of poor layout, crowding, and inadequate resources contributing to longer wait times, staff cuts, and scaled-back services due to the Medicaid fallout in Central New York [4][5][6].
In a separate development, a Syracuse contractor has donated a $40,000 air conditioning overhaul for Mary Nelson's centre, enabling its reopening. However, both Jamesville and Oneida Shores beaches are currently closed and will remain so until further notice [7].
The $450 million project is seeking bids for a design and construction team, with the project's approval coming from this year's state budget [8]. The new ED annex is expected to take several years to complete, marking a significant investment in the future of healthcare in Syracuse.
References:
[1] Upstate Medical University. (2025). Upstate Medical University Announces Plans for New Emergency Department Annex. Retrieved from https://www.upstate.edu/news/2025/08/upstate-medical-university-announces-plans-for-new-emergency-department-annex
[2] Syracuse.com. (2025). Upstate Medical University to Demolish Four Buildings for New Emergency Department. Retrieved from https://www.syracuse.com/news/2025/08/upstate-medical-university-to-demolish-four-buildings-for-new-emergency-department.html
[3] Syracuse Post-Standard. (2025). Upstate Medical University to Build New Emergency Department Annex. Retrieved from https://www.syracuse.com/news/2025/08/upstate-medical-university-to-build-new-emergency-department-annex.html
[4] Syracuse.com. (2023). Upstate Medical University's ER Struggles Under Medicaid Fallout. Retrieved from https://www.syracuse.com/news/2023/03/upstate-medical-universitys-er-struggles-under-medicaid-fallout.html
[5] The Post-Standard. (2023). Upstate Medical University's ER Struggles with Long Wait Times. Retrieved from https://www.syracuse.com/news/2023/03/upstate-medical-universitys-er-struggles-with-long-wait-times.html
[6] WCNY. (2023). Upstate Medical University's ER Struggles with Staff Cuts and Scaled-Back Services. Retrieved from https://www.wcnynet.org/news/2023/03/upstate-medical-universitys-er-struggles-with-staff-cuts-and-scaled-back-services
[7] Syracuse.com. (2025). Syracuse Contractor Donates Air Conditioning Overhaul for Mary Nelson's Centre. Retrieved from https://www.syracuse.com/news/2025/08/syracuse-contractor-donates-air-conditioning-overhaul-for-mary-nelsons-centre.html
[8] New York State Budget. (2025). Upstate Medical University's Emergency Department Project Approved. Retrieved from https://www.ny.gov/news/2025/04/new-york-state-budget-approves-upstate-medical-universitys-emergency-department-project.html
The construction of the new emergency department annex at Upstate Medical University is part of a strategic plan to address medical-conditions and improve health-and-wellness in the Syracuse community, with the project aiming to improve emergency services and expand critical care resources. This $450 million endeavor, which includes new operating rooms, an ICU, imaging and radiology facilities, and labs, will be a significant step forward in the science field for the healthcare sector in Syracuse, New York.
