The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) held a groundbreaking ceremony Oct. 30 for a new $110 million outpatient care center on the University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center (UM SJMC) campus in Towson.
According to a news release, the freestanding, four-story building measures 112,000 square feet and will bring surgical, specialty, rehabilitation and primary care services together in one location, expanding community access and supporting the shift of health care services beyond the hospital setting.
Expected to open in spring 2028, the center is designed to serve 250,000 patients/visits annually and includes 340 parking spaces. The center will feature two outpatient surgery centers, focused on orthopedic and pain procedures and multi-specialty surgeries. Other services will include musculoskeletal care, sports medicine rehabilitation, primary care, diabetes and endocrine care, pulmonary care, infusion services and pediatric specialty care.
“This project is a strategic investment in ambulatory care, highlighting our commitment to innovation, health impact and serving our communities with academic medicine, connecting today’s research to tomorrow’s bedside care,” said Mohan Suntha, UMMS president and CEO, in a news release. “The Center for Outpatient Care is much more than just a new building, it is an investment that reflects where healthcare is headed and how we intend to meet the changing needs of Marylanders.”
Suntha said the project will build on UM SJM’s longstanding role in the community while expanding access to specialty and outpatient surgical care. The investment is part of UMMS’s broader commitment to bringing healthcare closer to where Marylanders live.
President of UM SJMC, Robin Luxon, said the center is intended to make care more accessible and convenient for patients at different stages of life, from older adults managing chronic pain to children who need specialized care.
“Think about the grandfather who used to take a walk every morning, but now struggles to get around because of chronic knee pain. Or the parents who have just learned their child needs a pediatric specialist. Or someone facing surgery who wants to get through the procedure safely, recover comfortably at home, and get back to their life as quickly as possible,” Luxon said. “These are the people we’re thinking about when we talk about improving access to care. It’s not just about making appointments more convenient. It’s about making a real difference in people’s lives.”
The building will be constructed using the “tilt-up” concrete method, in which large concrete wall panels are poured on-site and lifted into place by crane. The method can reduce construction time and costs while allowing greater flexibility in the building’s interior layout. The building will also feature an advanced acoustic design and an all-electric infrastructure, resulting in zero carbon emissions, according to the news release.
UM SJMC is a member organization hospital of UMMS. Partners of the project include University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM) and its Faculty Physicians Inc. (FPI), Ruxton Surgical Center, Towson Orthopaedic Associates, Towson Sports Medicine, Towson Surgical Center and the UM St. Joseph Medical Group. Philanthropic partners of the the project include Edward St. John Foundation, Slitzer LaPausky Foundation and Herman and Walter Samuelson Foundation.
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