Construction Ceremony Marks Major Extension of Strong Memorial Hospital
The University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) is currently undertaking its largest capital project in history – the Strong Expansion Project. This ambitious endeavour, which commenced in 2024, is designed to alleviate chronic bed shortages and overcrowding in the Emergency Department (ED), as well as improve mental health services across the Finger Lakes region.
The expansion involves tripling the size of the existing ED, from 32,000 square feet to 120,000 square feet, significantly increasing capacity and services for urgent and emergency care. A new nine-story patient tower is also being added, enhancing inpatient care facilities and potentially expanding specialty services.
NYS Assemblymember Jennifer Lunsford is proud to have secured $50 million state funding for the expansion, emphasising its critical importance to the health and well-being of New Yorkers across the Finger Lakes region. Rochester Mayor Malik Evans views the expansion as beneficial for generations to come, planting seeds of hope for the city's future.
NYS Senator Samra Brouk, as Chair of the New York State Senate Committee on Mental Health, emphasises the expansion's importance in addressing mental health challenges and creating spaces for psychiatric emergency care. NYS Senator Jeremy Cooney views the expansion as a vital source of essential care, enhancing the quality of care for countless Rochester families.
The Strong Expansion Project is not only about physical growth. It also focuses on advanced clinical programs. For instance, the URMC is integrating Primary Care Service Lines and value-based care models aimed at improving patient outcomes and equity. Technological upgrades like the Dragon Ambient Experience (DAX) for AI-assisted documentation are also being implemented to improve provider efficiency.
Moreover, the expansion of specialty outreach services in nearby counties aims to improve access to care. Notably, the University of Rochester Medical Center plans to consolidate cardiovascular services in the new tower.
Funding for the expansion includes a $50 million state grant and a $1 million federal grant. NYS Assemblymember Demond Meeks is honoured to be part of the groundbreaking, highlighting the project's potential to enhance patient experiences and meet growing needs.
Monroe County Executive Adam Bello believes the expansion will have a transformative impact on the community, preserving and expanding emergency medical care for patients throughout the Finger Lakes region, especially for underserved communities. NYS Assemblymember Harry Bronson supports the Strong Memorial Hospital expansion, citing its potential to improve emergency medical care and recovery space.
While no precise completion date for the Strong Expansion Project has been given, ongoing work and related strategic efforts are actively reported as of mid-2025. The project reflects a comprehensive strategy to meet growing patient needs, combining physical growth with advanced clinical programs.
- The bed shortage in the Emergency Department (ED) at the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) is being addressed through the Strong Expansion Project, which aims to significantly increase capacity and services for urgent and emergency care by tripling the size of the existing ED.
- The Strong Expansion Project, beyond just physical growth, focuses on advancing medical-conditions care through specialized programs, such as Primary Care Service Lines and value-based care models, and technological upgrades like the Dragon Ambient Experience (DAX) for AI-assisted documentation.
- The bed capacity at URMC is expected to grow with the addition of a new patient tower, providing better emergency care, improving mental health services, and potentially expanding specialized services like cardiovascular care, as part of the comprehensive strategy to meet growing patient needs.
