Mayor Muriel Bowser, Universal Health Services Break Ground on New Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center

Mayor Muriel Bowser, Universal Health Services, George Washington University and Children’s National Hospital broke ground on the new Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center, GW Health in Ward 8 on the St. Elizabeth’s East Campus. The project is being designed by HOK and McKissack & McKissack and built by Turner Construction Company and MCN Build.

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.

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. These health assets and investments will aim to change the trajectory of the district’s communities of color, whose health outcomes are consistently lower.

The plan integrates the hospital into the 10-acre campus with plazas, outdoor spaces for rest and retreat and green space. Materials including the classic red-brick façade 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 during construction. The project will support nearly 2,000 jobs and create at least 50 apprenticeships, with more than 300 workers onsite daily at the peak of construction.

The Washington-based team includes 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% of the design and engineering team will be made up of local CBEs. The design and construction team pairs a majority firm with a minority firm for every discipline.

The project is expected to open in December 2024.